What is a significant indicator of effective school-wide behavior support systems?

A significant indicator of effective school-wide behavior support systems is the decreased rates of disciplinary referrals. This outcome suggests that the strategies implemented to promote positive behavior and prevent misconduct are successful. When a school effectively fosters a positive environment and proactively addresses behavioral issues, students are less likely to engage in actions that result in disciplinary measures.

Reduced disciplinary referrals are indicative of improved student behavior, enhanced school climate, and successful interventions in addressing the needs of students. This aligns with the goals of behavior support systems, which aim to create a safe and conducive learning environment. Consequently, schools can not only enhance student behavior but also focus resources more effectively on academic achievement and other areas of development.

In contrast, options like increased student absences and higher dropout rates signal issues in the school environment, such as disengagement or lack of support, which contradict the goals of behavior support systems. Improvement in standardized test scores, though beneficial, is a secondary measure of a school's overall effectiveness and does not directly assess the impact of behavior management strategies. Therefore, decreased rates of disciplinary referrals remains the most direct measure of success for behavior support initiatives.