The Starts and Stumbles of Restorative Justice in Education: Where Do We Go from Here?
Summary: This policy brief reviews the current state of implementation of Restorative Justice In Education (RJE) and makes several recommendations for schools, researchers, and policy makers. The authors focus on the importance of a principle-based, comprehensive, and equity-based approach, consideration for the development of contextually sensitive, strategic, and long-term implementation plans and practices, and that follow-up research examines change as a result of the program over a three to five year period of time.
Source: Gregory, A., & Evans, K.R. (2020). The Starts and Stumbles of Restorative Justice in Education: Where Do We Go from Here? Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center.
DC Elementary School Transforms Culture with Alternative Discipline
Summary: When Langley Elementary, a Title I school in Washington, D.C., implemented the Conscious Discipline approach, its school culture improved significantly and suspension rates dropped, EdSurge reports, noting that the “top-to-bottom” reforms took around three years to yield positive results.
Source: Shawna De La Rosa, Education DIVE, October 16, 2019
Restorative Justice Programs Struggling Due to Lack of Funds
Summary: Some school districts are cutting restorative justice programs because of budget constraints. The Oakland (CA) Unified School District is a prime example. The primary need for funding is teacher training since research has shown the program to be more effective when teachers are properly trained to lead the sessions.
Source: Shawna de la Rosa, Education DIVE, July 2, 2019
Student Suspensions Plummeted in this New Jersey School District. Here’s How They Did it.
Summary: This article presents the story of how the Morris School District (Morristown, NJ) used a system of restorative justice to dramatically change their approach to discipline issues.
Source: Hannan Aderly, North Jersey Record, June 25, 2019
Study: Restorative Practices Can Reduce Racial Disparities in Suspensions
Summary: This article reports on a study done in the Pittsburgh Public Schools of restorative practice programs. The study found that there was a significant reduction in the number of days that students were suspended, particularly at the elementary level and among black students. Other concerns with the results of this study are noted in the article.
Source: Linda Jacobson, Education DIVE, January 3, 2019
Study Correlates Positive School Climate, Fewer Suspensions
Summary:This article reports on a research study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri and the University of Virginia which found that student suspensions could drop by 10% when schools work to develop a more positive school climate. Enforcing clear rules and building positive teacher-student relationships were two areas that helped to achieve these results in schools.
Source: Linda Jacobson, Education DIVE, December 18, 2018
Categories: School Culture and Climate, Student Behavior, Codes of Conduct, Relationships, Restorative Practices
A Proactive Approach to Discipline
Summary: This article explores alternative approaches to discipline. These include Restorative Practices as well as well as supportive and responsive discipline. These are positive approaches to discipline where expected behavior is modeled and students have a say in the norms and rules that govern classroom behavior.
Source: Marieke van Woerkom, Edutopia, October 26, 2018
Categories: Restorative Practices, Student Behavior, Codes of Conduct, Classroom Strategies, SEL Basics
How Restorative Justice Helps Students Learn
Summary:This article is a good introduction to Restorative Justice (RJ), an approach that is used as a dicipline/behavioral measure that helps students return to a calm state and re-engage in the learning process.
Source:Jacquelyn Richards, Edutopia, September 4, 2018
Categories: Restorative Practices, SEL Basics, Codes of Conduct, Student Behavior, School Culture and Climate
Rutgers Launches New Social Justice Prep Program for Future Educators
Summary: This article reports on a new program offered by the Rutgers Graduate School of Education to help prepare aspiring teachers to to teach diverse groups of students. Another aspect of this work is to encourage and enable teaches to use culturally responsive materials and resources in the classroom.
Source: Pat Donachie, Education DIVE, October 25, 2017
Categories: Social Justice, SEL Teacher Training, Professional Development, Restorative Practices, Educational Equity
Suspensions Don’t Teach
Summary: This article reports that restorative practices, rather than suspensions, provides students with an opportunity for learning behavioral alternatives while remaining in school. The article goes on to explain the five steps of restorative practices.
Source: Ryan Wheeler, Edutopia, October 11, 2017
Categories: Restorative Practices, Student Behavior, Code of Conduct, Core Values
