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Can Data Teams Transform School Climate?

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Lesson Plan

Can Data Teams Transform School Climate?

Leverage school climate data to identify root causes, map PBIS objectives, and align MTSS practices, equipping K–12 staff to implement data-driven strategies that foster a positive school environment.

A data-driven approach strengthens PBIS and MTSS frameworks, empowering educators to make informed decisions, target interventions, and collaboratively improve student behavior and overall school climate.

Audience

K–12 Staff

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Collaborative data review, discussion, and goal-setting activities.

Materials

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Data-Driven Climate Kickoff

10 minutes

  • Introduce session objectives and agenda.
  • Display key school climate metrics using the Data-Driven Climate Kickoff Slide Deck.
  • Prompt participants to note initial impressions and questions.

Step 2

Root Cause Roundtable

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Root Cause Roundtable Discussion Guide.
  • Organize participants into diverse, cross-role groups.
  • Use guiding questions to uncover underlying causes of current climate challenges.
  • Rotate roles (facilitator, recorder, presenter) every 5 minutes to ensure engagement.

Step 3

PBIS Goal Mapping Activity

15 minutes

  • Hand out the PBIS Goal Mapping Activity Sheet.
  • In pairs, map identified root causes to specific, measurable PBIS goals.
  • Chart goals on the activity sheet and define metrics for tracking progress.

Step 4

MTSS Implementation Self-Check

10 minutes

  • Provide the MTSS Implementation Self-Check Worksheet.
  • Participants individually assess current MTSS tiered supports against best practices.
  • Identify 1–2 actionable steps to better align MTSS processes with PBIS goals.

Step 5

Debrief and Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Reconvene whole group to share key insights and proposed actions.
  • Summarize major takeaways and celebrate collaborative solutions.
  • Outline next meeting dates for the data team to revisit progress and refine strategies.
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Slide Deck

Data-Driven Climate Kickoff

Can Data Teams Transform School Climate?
PBIS • MTSS • Data Team Practices
60-Minute Tier 1 PD for K–12 Staff

Welcome everyone to our professional development session. Introduce yourself and share the goal: using data to drive improvements in PBIS and MTSS and strengthen our school climate.

Session Objectives

• Leverage school climate data to identify root causes
• Map root causes to measurable PBIS goals
• Align MTSS tiered supports with PBIS targets
• Develop next steps for data-driven interventions

Review each objective aloud. Emphasize the actionable focus: moving from data to root-cause analysis, goal mapping, and actionable steps.

Agenda

10 min – Data-Driven Climate Kickoff
20 min – Root Cause Roundtable
15 min – PBIS Goal Mapping
10 min – MTSS Implementation Self-Check
5 min – Debrief & Next Steps

Walk participants through the agenda and set timing expectations. Highlight the interactive and collaborative nature of each segment.

Key School Climate Metrics

• Attendance Rate: 95%
• Behavior Incidents: 120/month
• Climate Survey: 60% positive responses

Present the most recent school climate metrics. Use a projector to display charts or dashboards if possible, and ask participants to note any immediate reactions.

Trends Over Time

• 10% increase in behavior incidents last quarter
• 5% drop in positive survey scores year-over-year
• Steady attendance but pockets of chronic absenteeism

Highlight changes over time. Point out upward or downward trends and invite participants to consider potential drivers.

Reflection Questions

• What data points stand out to you?
• Which trends surprise you?
• Where might we need deeper context?

Ask participants to reflect individually for 2 minutes. Encourage them to jot notes on the discussion guide.

Next: Root Cause Roundtable

Please pick up your Root Cause Roundtable Discussion Guide and form groups of 4.
Rotate roles (facilitator, recorder, presenter) every 5 minutes.

Transition participants to the first activity. Remind them to form diverse groups, distribute the discussion guide, and rotate roles every 5 minutes.

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Discussion

Root Cause Roundtable Discussion Guide

Purpose

Participants will work in small groups to dig beneath surface data, identify underlying factors driving school climate challenges, and surface actionable root causes.

Roles & Rotation

  • Facilitator: Keeps the group on task, reads prompts aloud, and manages timing.
  • Recorder: Captures key ideas, themes, and potential root causes on flip chart or worksheet.
  • Presenter: Shares group findings with the whole group during debrief.

Rotate roles every 5 minutes so each participant has a chance in each role.

Timing

Total Time: 20 minutes

  • Round 1 (5 min): Prompt 1 & 2
  • Round 2 (5 min): Prompt 3 & 4
  • Round 3 (5 min): Synthesize themes
  • Round 4 (5 min): Prepare presentation

Discussion Prompts

  1. Which metric or trend surprised you most?
    • What makes this metric noteworthy?








  2. What school-level or classroom-level factors might be contributing to this trend?
    • Consider staffing, routines, culture, instructional practices.








  3. What external or community influences could be at play?
    • Think about attendance drivers, family or neighborhood contexts.








  4. What do you see as the most likely “root cause”(s) of our climate challenges?
    • Prioritize 1–2 causes for deeper exploration.








Synthesis & Next Steps

  • Recorder: Identify the top 2 root causes your group will share.
  • Presenter: Craft a 1-minute summary of your group’s findings.

Capture your group’s synthesis on the chart paper or digital document, then reconvene for the whole-group debrief.

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Activity

PBIS Goal Mapping Activity Sheet

Instructions

In pairs, refer to the root causes identified during the Root Cause Roundtable Discussion Guide. For each root cause listed below,:

  1. Write a clear, measurable PBIS goal that addresses the root cause.
  2. Define a metric to track progress toward that goal.
  3. Outline specific action steps your team will take.

Chart your work in the table below.

Root CausePBIS GoalMetric for Tracking ProgressAction Steps














































































Feel free to add additional rows on a separate sheet if needed.

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Worksheet

MTSS Implementation Self-Check Worksheet

Instructions

Individually assess your implementation of MTSS tiered supports against PBIS best practices. For each tier:

  1. Rate your current implementation (1 = not in place, 5 = fully implemented).
  2. Provide evidence or examples.
  3. Identify 1–2 action steps to improve alignment with PBIS goals.

Tier 1: Universal Supports

Implementation Rating (circle one): 1 2 3 4 5


Evidence / Examples:






Action Steps:







Tier 2: Targeted Supports

Implementation Rating (circle one): 1 2 3 4 5


Evidence / Examples:






Action Steps:







Tier 3: Intensive Supports

Implementation Rating (circle one): 1 2 3 4 5


Evidence / Examples:






Action Steps:







Overall Reflection & Next Steps

Based on your self-check, list 2–3 key priorities for next steps to better align MTSS with PBIS initiatives:










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