Overview
Restorative justice practices help to build celebrate accomplishments, transform conflict, rebuild relationships that have been harmed, and reintegrate students who have been suspended or expelled.
A restorative approach brings awareness that misconduct is part of the developmental process of every young person. Corrective responses to misconduct using punishment can actually increase the likelihood that the misbehavior will re-occur. Both the theory and practice of Restorative Justice emphasize: (1) identifying the harm, (2) involving all stakeholders, and (3) true accountability— repairing the harm and addressing its causes. Restorative Justice Practices applied in our schools reflects an approach to wrongdoing and harmful behavior that aims to both prevent wrongdoing at all levels and intervene in offending behavior.
A restorative model fits well within the multi-tiered framework of support (MTSS) of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) and is at the heart, a prevention based approach.