At-Home Support
Milwaukee Public Schools’ multi-level system of supports (MLSS)—which includes Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)—ensures all students receive the support they need to be successful.
All MPS students receive Tier 1 supports for academics and behavior on a regular basis. You are encouraged to talk with your child’s teacher to learn more about how your student is being supported at school—and how you can help by providing reinforcement at home, too.
If your child does not meet academic standards or behavioral expectations, they may be identified to receive Tier 2 intervention. Interventions can be academic or behavioral (PBIS) and will focus on the specific skills where your child is having trouble.
Tier 1 Supports
What Families Need to Know
Academic
- Students receive quality core instruction based on standards. They are screened three times a year to identify those in need of intervention.
- Teachers differentiate instruction for all students.
- All students are prepared for college and careers through high academic expectations.
Behavior (PBIS)
- Schools create expectations for all areas of the building, and these expectations are taught to students.
- Adults build relationships with all students.
- All students are acknowledged for positive behavior.
- Schools have strategies and consequences for handling negative behaviors. Students are screened to determine who needs additional support.
Specific Questions to Ask
- What makes the core instruction that my child is receiving “high quality”?
- How is my child expected to participate during instruction?
- How can I stay informed regarding how my child is doing in their core instruction?
- How will I receive results of my child's universal screening?
- What resources are available to help me understand the results and work with my child toward reaching their goal?
- How is my child taught behavior?
- How is my child acknowledged for positive behavior?
- What consequences does the school have for various behaviors?
- How am I notified when my child fails to meet expectations?
How to Get Involved
- Communicate with teachers regularly.
- Attend school functions, such as back-to-school night and parent-teacher conferences.
- Ask your child about their school day.
- Monitor homework completion and help with assignments.
- Support and reinforce the classroom teacher.
- Meet with the teacher if your child starts to experience difficulties.
- Praise your child for good work and discuss any issues.
- Join school governance/action teams and committees.
- Join district teams and committees.
- Participate in district trainings on curriculum and behavior.
- Use PBIS at home.
Tier 2/Tier 3 Interventions
An intervention is something extra or different that schools do for students who need help with their academic or behavior needs. Every school will determine which students are in need of additional intervention for their academic or behavior needs through a process called screening. Students who need support will begin receiving an intervention as soon as possible. The school will also notify you as the parent/guardian so you are aware of the intervention. You can receive additional information or decide whether you would prefer that your child does not receive the intervention.
What Families Need to Know
Academic
- All schools offer interventions in literacy, mathematics, and written expression.
- All elementary schools provide interventions on a daily basis.
- All traditional middle schools and high schools offer intervention courses.
- Identified students receive interventions at least two to three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Student progress is monitored every other week to assess their growth.
Behavior (PBIS)
- Families receive passive consent for Tier 2 interventions and active consent for Tier 3 interventions.
- Tier 2 involves additional positive support from an adult throughout the day.
- Student progress is monitored daily, and families are updated often.
Specific Questions to Ask
- How will I be informed that my child needs a Tier 2/Tier 3 intervention?
- How was it determined that my child needs further support?
- Does the school offer literacy and/or math interventions?
- Who will do the intervention? When will it occur? How long will it last?
- How can I participate in the plan development or in the intervention itself?
- How will I be informed of my child’s progress?
- Is there anything I can do at home to support the intervention?
- What happens if the intervention is not successful?
How to Get Involved
- Communicate with teachers regularly.
- Set up a schedule to discuss intervention progress with the teacher.
- Meet with the teacher if your child experiences difficulties.
- Attend data-based review meetings.
- Reinforce expectations at home.
- Participate in parent academic or behavior support groups.
PBIS at Home
Using some PBIS best practices at home can help children connect their home and school life and increase their positive behaviors in both settings.
Home Expectations
At home, you can use the same expectations as your child's school: Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful. When talking to your child about these expectations, use this language and fit all your rules under these expectations. You might say, “Thank you for being responsible by cleaning up after dinner” or “Thank you for being safe by washing your hands.”
Area-Specific Expectations
You can create area-specific expectation posters for all the rooms of your house that set out what the specific expectations are for each setting. Every room should have a sign that lays out what it means to be safe, responsible, and respectful in that room. For example, a sign in the kitchen could inform your children that to be safe they should ask for help and use all materials properly. For being responsible, they should wash hands and clean up after they eat. For being respectful, they should say please and thank you and wait until everyone is served before eating. These posters can be created on the computer, on paper, or as a family art project.
Sample Poster: Bathroom Expectations
Sample Poster: Kitchen Expectations
Transition Expectations
For every transition that your child engages in at home, there should also be set expectations. Transitions could include eating, waking up in the morning, getting ready for bed, or doing homework. Write out what it means to be safe, responsible, and respectful at each of these times (just like you did for different areas).
Sample Poster: Transitions at Home
Behavior Lessons
Instead of assuming children can automatically meet behavior expectations, it is important to take time to teach them and show them what positive behavior looks like. At home, you should work with your child on a weekly basis (or more often, if needed) on how to meet your expectations. Practicing these skills and behaviors in each setting is effective. For example, practice how they should do homework without distractions. You can also use role playing or talk through “what if” scenarios with your child.
Acknowledgments
An essential element of PBIS is acknowledging when behavior expectations are reached. You should verbally acknowledge all positive behaviors to encourage your child to continue those behaviors. You can also introduce tangible acknowledgments—or rewards—to help encourage your child to reach any goals they are struggling with. Set a certain behavior expectation goal (cleaning up after dinner daily or brushing teeth twice a day) and provide a reward when it is reached. Here are some examples of rewards:
- Reading a story to your child or having them read to you
- Letting them stay up 10 minutes past bedtime
- Watching their favorite TV show or movie
- Cooking their favorite meal or letting them help cook dinner
- Playing a board game or completing a puzzle together
- Coloring or drawing together
- Going for a walk outside together
- Giving them a break from doing chores for a day
- Sending a positive note to your child’s teacher about the good job they are doing at home
Additional Parent Resources
How to Get Behaviors in Shape at Home: English | Spanish
Ideas for Acknowledging Positive Behaviors: English
More Information
Contact your child's school if you have any questions or want to learn more about MLSS.