Ohio's positive behavior intervention and supports training for school staff (Ohio Adm. Code 3301-35-15): what the rule asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
Ohio requires every school district to implement positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS) system-wide, and Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-15 requires the district's student personnel to receive PBIS professional development at least every three years. Student personnel include teachers, principals, counselors, teacher's aides, bus drivers, nursing staff and other district staff who interact directly with students. The rule lists required PBIS topics without specifying hours and allows the listed requirements to be appropriately modified for the intended audience; it does not name autism.
What the law says
Ohio Revised Code 3319.46(B)(1)(a) requires each school district board of education to "Implement a positive behavior intervention and supports framework on a system-wide basis that complies with this section." The state rule sets the standards. Its definition of "school district" in paragraph (A)(13) includes local, exempted village, city, joint vocational and cooperative education school districts; educational service centers that operate a school or educational program; community schools; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) schools; and college-preparatory boarding schools. It excludes schools operated in facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections or the Department of Youth Services. Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-15(B)(2)(a) lists, as a standard, "Student personnel to receive professional development in accordance with paragraph (C) of this rule." Paragraph (C):
"The following are requirements for professional development to be received by student personnel to implement positive behavior intervention and supports on a system-wide basis: (1) Occurs at least every three years; (2) Provided by a building or district positive behavior intervention and supports leadership team or an appropriate state, regional, or national source in collaboration with the building or district positive behavior intervention and supports leadership team;"
The district's trained PBIS leadership team provides the professional development under a district-developed PBIS training plan, and the district keeps the completion records. Paragraph (C)(4) lists the topics: an overview of PBIS; the process for teaching behavioral expectations; data collection; implementation of PBIS with fidelity; consistent systems of feedback to students for appropriate behavior and corrections for behavior errors; and consistency in discipline and discipline referrals.
Who it covers, from paragraph (A)(16):
"'Student personnel' means teacher, principal, counselor, social worker, school resource officer, teacher's aide, psychologist, bus driver, related services providers, nursing staff, or other school district staff who interact directly with students."
The rule's official page shows it effective June 24, 2021. In Ohio law, PBIS is a school-wide framework "for all students," not a program only for students with disabilities. Paragraph (H) of the same rule is separate: it requires an appropriate number of personnel in each building to be trained every year in crisis management, de-escalation and the safe use of restraint and seclusion.
Source: Ohio Adm. Code 3301-35-15; Ohio Rev. Code 3319.46.
What the state provides
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, with OCALI, released a Tier 1 Schoolwide PBIS Module Series of 14 self-paced online modules. Its announcement says the series "is now available for schools and districts to meet the requirements of state law." No price is shown. See the department's announcement.
Where outside training fits
The rule says the professional development comes from the building or district PBIS leadership team, or from "an appropriate state, regional, or national source in collaboration with" that team, under the district's own training plan. Paragraph (C)(2) permits an appropriate outside source to provide PBIS professional development in collaboration with the building or district PBIS leadership team; it does not establish that any particular outside course qualifies. Ask your district's PBIS team how it builds its training plan and how it evaluates outside courses. We offer our course as introductory ABA training. We do not claim that it satisfies 3301-35-15, covers the topics in paragraph (C)(4), or counts toward the three-year PBIS professional development. Our course does not teach restraint, seclusion, crisis intervention or de-escalation.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Ohio state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.