Beverly Hills Unified schools win state PBIS implementation awards; district showcases student programs

Beverly Hills Unified School District officials and school teams on Feb. 11 highlighted statewide honors for their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program, saying four district schools earned California implementation awards and that districtwide rollout continues from elementary through high school.

PBIS is a framework that sets and teaches behavioral expectations across campus locations, then rewards and intervenes when students struggle. The district presentation emphasized that staff who coordinated across sites built the program over several years and that each school has tailored matrices, reward systems and tiered supports.

District staff said the program began with a “soft launch” and moved to full implementation during the pandemic years. At El Rodeo (the recently opened site launched from Hawthorne), presenters described a schoolwide matrix called El Rodeo Eagles — “Respectful, Engaged, Open‑minded” — posted in classrooms and common areas; an Eagle card system that students turn in for weekly and class prizes; a student‑run Eagle Store; and an online behavior‑referral form used to monitor incidents.

At Horace Mann, assistant principal Molly Wong and staff described “Husky High Five” values — Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be an Upstander, Persevere — displayed around campus, regular behavior walks, classroom expectations and both weekly and monthly assemblies to recognize students. Horace Mann leaders also outlined check‑in/check‑out mentoring for students who need daily adult support and “behavior academies” run by counselors and specialists to reteach expected behaviors.

Beverly Vista Middle School (BVMS) said it had received a gold implementation award and the state Schools to Watch designation—an external program that identifies middle schools with practices that the state considers model and replicable. BVMS staff described a tiered system that includes after‑school tutoring, a wellness center, mediation and an Alternative to Suspension (ATS) program in which students receive counseling and academic support instead of losing instructional time.

Beverly Hills High School reported a bronze implementation award and outlined steps the high school team is taking to adapt PBIS for older students: campus‑wide location matrices, weekly student recognition, and a data‑driven Check‑In/Check‑Out system tied to progress reports and weekly monitoring.

District leaders and several trustees praised the cross‑site work. Trustee comments and several board members’ remarks said the behavior focus supports improved academic outcomes and school climate. The presentation included multiple student speakers who described how incentives and mentoring changed their day‑to‑day behavior and engagement.

Why it matters: District officials framed PBIS as an instructional program for behavior — “teaching behavior like reading and math” — that aims to reduce office referrals, keep students in class, and build skills that support long‑term success. Presenters said the district’s decision to implement PBIS from elementary through middle and high school is uncommon and helped sites improve their implementation level over time.

District presenters and site teams said the work continues: expanding tier‑2 supports, refining check‑in/check‑out implementation, and coordinating rewards and parent communication. No formal board action was taken on the PBIS presentation; the meeting’s business items proceeded after the recognition.

— Clarifying details from presentations included that each site initially earned bronze, some moved to silver or platinum, and BVMS reported a gold award and Schools to Watch recognition. Staff described tier‑2 supports such as daily mentor check‑ins, behavior academies, and schoolwide referral tracking to detect patterns that require administrative intervention. A student‑run ASB/4‑core store at BVMS and student Eagle stores at El Rodeo were cited as incentive mechanisms.