Since 1998, Dr. Cheney and his research team have been implementing a sustained intervention project, known as BEACONS, in schools throughout Washington to provide students and teachers with Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) at the schoolwide, targeted, and intensive levels. BEACONS is a result of the Task Force on Behavioral Disabilities, appointed by Dr. Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Mr. Lyle Quasim, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In June 1999, The Task Force recommended that a Comprehensive System of Care be developed and implemented throughout the state. Since that time, BEACONS has received state, federal, and private funding to implement recommendations of the Task Force Report. Over fifty schools in more than ten school districts are now implementing strategies that match the PBS model and the recommendations of the Task Force Report.
These recommendations have also been aligned with the work being conducted nationally at the University of Oregon's Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.