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SUNNYVALE, CA – August 26, 2026 For the first time since the State Recognition System began, all 10 schools in the Sunnyvale School District have earned the Silver Implementation Award from California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The districtwide recognition comes in Sunnyvale’s first year applying to the CA PBIS program, with approximately one in four California schools receiving an award for the 2025-26 school year.
Established in 2015, the State Recognition System honors schools that strongly implement a systems-based, multi-tiered framework designed to strengthen academic outcomes, improve attendance, reduce bullying, and support students’ social and emotional well-being. Earning the awards show how Sunnyvale schools are working to fulfill our promise that every student is known by name, strength, and need.
Chin Chin Chiu, Sunnyvale’s behavior intervention services coordinator, has led the districtwide implementation of PBIS, helping school teams build consistent, evidence-based systems that support positive student behavior and meet students’ needs.
“Sunnyvale has been implementing PBIS for over 10 years,” Chiu shared. “Receiving this recognition feels like an affirmation of our work in providing a positive school culture for our students, staff and families.”
To earn the Silver Implementation Award, each school achieved a score of 70% or higher on the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) at Tier 1 of the multi-tiered framework. Tier 1 practices are those that apply universally for all students as outlined on the Center on PBIS Website. In addition, 80% of our classrooms were required to demonstrate at least two evidence-based classroom practices being applied, along with additional implementation criteria. We are proud of our implementation practices and look forward to the next steps to improve for our students.
“Congratulations to our staff districtwide,” Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D., shared. “This districtwide recognition is a testament to our educators’ work to create safer campuses, protect instructional time and build school cultures where students are recognized for making positive choices.”
California PBIS will formally recognize Sunnyvale School District and all 10 schools at its annual conference, taking place Oct. 7–9 in Sacramento.
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About Sunnyvale School District
The Sunnyvale School District serves approximately 5,600 students across eight elementary schools and two middle schools. Our Promise is that every student is known by name, strength and need, ready to excel in high school and beyond, and to lead a life of joy and purpose. Sunnyvale is in the northwestern section of Santa Clara County, in the heart of Silicon Valley. For more information, visit our website at www.sesd.org
