Restorative Justice Practices
Restorative Justice Practices Overview
Restorative justice practices in schools refer
to a range of community-based discipline and conflict-resolution
strategies, which provide accountability and redress without
removing students from the community. Traditional suspension and
expulsion measures, while sometimes appropriate, remove students
from the learning environment and too often target students of
color. Restorative justice practices encourage facilitated
dialogue and repairing harm, instead of relying solely on
punishment. Studies have shown that students who are engaged and
accountable in their school communities suffer less absenteeism
and achieve higher academic success. The goal is to keep kids in
school and give them the tools to mediate conflict.
