Project Brochure [PDF] | Project Overview [PowerPoint]

Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MiBLSi) is designed to help students become better readers who use appropriate behavior resulting in increased student success in the school and community.

To reach this goal, MiBLSi aims to develop support systems to help educators implement and sustain a data-driven problem-solving model in selected elementary schools.

MiBLSi will select and support regional teams that will build the capacity of local elementary schools to implement and sustain schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and research-based reading intervention, resulting in the following:

• Increased reading performance (based on formative, summative, and statewide assessments).
• Reduced behavior problems using the PBS approach.
• Accurate and timely knowledge of student performance in behavior and reading.
• Data-driven decision making based on information about student performance in behavior and reading.

Project Activities

• Sites will develop action plans based on unique needs for continued improvement.
• Regional teams and local coaches will receive ongoing personnel development and technical assistance to support local schools.
• School staff will receive personnel development and support in the use of research-based prevention and intervention strategies.
• Web-based statewide support will be developed to promote sustainability.
• Annual statewide conferences will support continuous improvement and ongoing personnel development.

This initiative will improve the success of all students. Your Schools Can: Monitor student reading and behavior performance Access dynamic data collection systems that provide staff with performance indicators in reading and behavior that are accurate and timely —for example the School Wide Information System (SWIS™) and the Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS™). Make decisions based on data Develop and implement reading and behavior interventions using student performance indicators. Evaluate intervention effectiveness through ongoing data collection and progress monitoring. Improve reading success Develop schoolwide instructional and intervention supports. Use research-based interventions connected to the five essential components of a comprehensive reading program: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Improve behavioral success Reduce behavior problems through schoolwide Positive Behavior Support. Establish a continuum of prevention and support across different levels of student need. Network with others Access local support. Access regional support. Access statewide support.