For Schools

Empowering teachers to build positive classrooms and help every student thrive.

Teacher-Child Interaction Training

Universal Model

Teacher-Child Interaction Training - Universal (TCIT-U) strengthens teachers' skills in building positive relationships and managing classroom behavior. Through hands-on training and in-class coaching, educators learn strategies that promote social-emotional development, improve student behavior, and create supportive learning environments.

TCIT-U empowers teachers to meet the needs of all students and foster academic and behavioral success.

TCIT-U: an Evidence-Based Treatment Model

Teacher-Child Interaction Training - Universal (TCIT-U) is an evidence-based, classroom-focused professional development model designed to strengthen teachers' skills in positive behavior management and social-emotional learning strategies. TCIT-U provides early childhood and elementary educators with practical, research-backed techniques to build nurturing teacher-student relationships, promote prosocial behavior, and create effective classroom management systems.

TCIT-U is delivered through a combination of interactive workshops and live, in-classroom coaching, allowing teachers to practice new skills in real time with support from a trained coach. During the training, educators learn to:

Increase positive teacher-student interactions through praise, reflection, and encouragement.

Reduce challenging classroom behaviors like defiance, aggression, and disruption.

Implement consistent behavior expectations and discipline strategies aligned with best practices in behavior support.

Foster social-emotional development that supports students' academic readiness and long-term success.

TCIT-U seamlessly integrates with school-wide frameworks such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), making it an ideal Tier 1 intervention for improving overall classroom climate.

Designed for flexibility, TCIT-U training is adapted to fit early education, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary mainstream and special education settings.

By empowering teachers with concrete tools to improve student behavior and build stronger connections with students, TCIT-U creates classrooms where all children feel supported, engaged, and ready to learn.

Theory & History

Efficacy

TCIT-U IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS

Teacher-Child Interaction Training - Universal (TCIT-U) is backed by strong research evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in improving classroom behavior, strengthening teacher-child relationships, and promoting social-emotional development in young learners.

Multiple randomized controlled trials and real-world studies show that teachers trained in TCIT-U report significant increases in the use of positive behavior management strategies, along with decreases in classroom disruptions such as defiance, aggression, and noncompliance. Students in TCIT-U classrooms demonstrate improvements in emotional regulation, cooperation, and overall school readiness skills.

Research also highlights the positive impact of TCIT-U on educators themselves.

Teachers report reduced stress, greater confidence, and enhanced classroom management skills following participation in TCIT-U.

These improvements are not only immediate but are sustained over time, even as new student cohorts enter the classroom.

Importantly, TCIT-U has proven effective across a variety of educational settings, including Head Start programs, public preschools, and early elementary classrooms. Its adaptability makes it an ideal Tier 1 intervention within frameworks such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

As an evidence-based professional development program, TCIT-U equips teachers with lasting tools to create nurturing, well-managed classrooms where all students can thrive.

The Research

  • Teacher-Child Interaction Training – Universal (TCIT-U) has been extensively studied in early education and elementary school environments, consistently demonstrating strong positive outcomes for both students and teachers. As an evidence-based classroom intervention, TCIT-U focuses on strengthening teacher-student relationships, improving classroom behavior management, and promoting social-emotional development among young learners.

  • Research shows that teachers trained in TCIT-U significantly increase their use of positive reinforcement strategies, including praise and reflective listening, while reducing reliance on corrective or punitive discipline methods. These changes contribute to more nurturing classroom climates and lead to decreases in student disruptive behaviors such as defiance, noncompliance, and aggression.

  • Studies have also found that students in TCIT-U classrooms demonstrate marked improvements in attention, emotional regulation, cooperation, and peer interactions. Importantly, gains in both teacher practices and student behavior have been shown to sustain over time, with some studies documenting continued benefits one to two years after initial training.

  • Beyond student outcomes, TCIT-U has been linked to enhanced teacher well-being. Educators report reduced job stress, higher confidence in managing behavior, and greater satisfaction with their teaching experience following TCIT-U participation.

  • TCIT-U fits seamlessly within school-wide frameworks such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), making it a scalable Tier 1 approach. Its flexibility allows for individualized teacher coaching while also supporting system-wide improvement efforts.

Collectively, the research positions TCIT-U as a highly effective, sustainable solution for improving classroom behavior and supporting teachers across diverse educational settings.

For Educators & Administrators

From a school administrator’s perspective, Teacher-Child Interaction Training – Universal (TCIT-U) offers a powerful, evidence-based solution to improve both student behavior and overall school climate. TCIT-U equips teachers with practical strategies for positive classroom management, emphasizing proactive techniques that strengthen teacher-student relationships and reduce disruptive behaviors across the classroom.

Research shows that implementing TCIT-U leads to significant reductions in office discipline referrals, suspensions, and incidents of classroom disruption. As teachers gain confidence in behavior management strategies, instructional time increases and student engagement improves, contributing to stronger academic outcomes.

In addition to student benefits, TCIT-U supports teacher retention—a critical issue for many schools. Educators who complete TCIT-U training report lower stress levels, higher job satisfaction, and greater confidence in their ability to manage challenging behaviors, helping to create a more stable and positive teaching workforce.

Administrators will also appreciate that TCIT-U aligns easily with frameworks like Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), making it a scalable Tier 1 intervention across classrooms and grade levels.

As an evidence-based professional development program, TCIT-U offers sustainable change, equipping schools with a self-sufficient model for ongoing teacher support and improved student outcomes. Investing in TCIT-U means investing in the long-term success of students, teachers, and the entire school community.

Contact us to bring TCIT to your school

If you're looking for practical, proven strategies to build stronger connections with your students, improve classroom behavior, and reduce daily stress, Teacher-Child Interaction Training - Universal (TCIT-U) can help. TCIT-U offers evidence-based techniques that strengthen teacher-student relationships and promote positive social-emotional development in every child. With hands-on coaching and real-time support, you'll gain skills that create a calmer, more engaged learning environment-and see lasting results.

Take the next step toward a more positive, productive classroom. Learn more about bringing TCIT-U training to your school today!