Research Purpose and Objectives Under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Union, Dr. Lefki Kourea was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (FP7- PEOPLE-2012- ΙΟF) in an open bottom-up research competition. This is a three-year european grant for conducting a mixed-methods educational research in elementary schools across the United States and Cyprus. For the execution of this project, a partnership agreement was signed between the University of Cyprus (European host) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Outgoing host).

The research project titled «Establishing Safe, Positive, Inclusive School Environments: The three-tiered paradigm» (ESPISE-3P) presents an innovative approach to the current school discipline practices in Cyprus. The overarching goal of this project is to revisit and reshape such discipline punitive-based practices by giving emphasis on creating a safe, positive, and inclusive school environment through a preventative multi-tiered supports system for addressing more efficiently and effectively student academic and behavioral problems.

The ESPISE-3P is documented extensively in the research literature as School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports System (SWPBIS) or School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports (SWPBS). For a description of the schoolwide programme, click here.

The ESPISE-3P project has a dual research focus:

1. To what extent are content and procedures, student outcomes and family involvement of the ongoing school-wide PBIS approach, as implemented by school personnel at exemplar elementary schools in Cabarrus County Schools, , consistent with recommended evidence-based practices documented in the research literature?

2. What would such an evidence-based PBIS model look like for the elementary schools of Cyprus?