Transformative School Culture. Meaningful Accountability. Youth Leadership.

WHY DO RESTORATIVE PRACTICES MATTER?

There is an urgent need  for meaningful change in school discipline practices. Schools need a pragmatic and achievable approach that leads to authentic accountability when conflict or harm arises, that reinvigorates and restores positive school culture, and brings all stakeholders to the table.. Let The Leadership Program be your partner in igniting this change.

We have seen how powerful and transformative Restorative Justice practices can be, embracing everyone as a valued community member. RJ practices lay the groundwork for students and staff to step confidently into leadership roles, develop mature decision-making skills, and take responsibility for their actions and the impact they have on others.

DOES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORK?

YES.  Statistics show that it is a key factor in dismantling the school to prison pipeline.

Statistics gathered over more than a decade show that:

• The chances a high school freshman will graduate decline 23% after just one out-of-school suspension
• Students who have disabilities, who identify as LGBTQI, and Latino and black students are suspended at disproportionate rates—sometimes reaching as high as 4 times more than other students—even for minor infractions such as cell phone use or public display of affection
• Students suspended or expelled are 3 times more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system within a year than non-suspended students
• One Philadelphia high school reported a 52% decrease in “violent acts and serious incidents” in the first year they implemented RJ and a further 40% decrease in the first half of year two¹
• Schools from ES-HS level in Minnesota that offered intensive RJ training and follow-up for staff reported 45- to 63-percent decrease in suspensions ¹

WHAT DOES RJ MEAN FOR STAFF?

How staff is involved...

Introductory training provides school staff with a foundation in RJ philosophy and approach, community- building strategies, and initial informal restorative responses to harm and conflict.

Support is provided through ongoing modeling and coaching of RJ strategies as well as participation in regular staff community-building circles and student circles. Staff and their coach develop scaffolded objectives for the progressive stages of transition to whole school Restorative culture. Staff circles provide an opportunity to discuss early successes and challenges with administrative and peer support.

Staff will work with the support of the coach to devise strategies for creating RJ-aligned youth leadership opportunities such as student-led circle keeping and restorative peer mediation. Next level RJ training includes how to facilitate conflict and healing circles and re-entry circles.