Benefits of Restorative Justice Practices in SDUSD

References: References: San Diego Unified School District. (2014). Positve Behavior Support Strategies Board Presentation. San Diego Unified: A restorative district. A new way to envision the future. Retrieved from http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/sandi/Board.nsf/files/9MCUMX737763/$file/Restorative%20District%20-%20Positive%20Behavior%20Strategies%20Presentation,%207-29-14.pdf In 2012, the U.S. Department of Education civil rights office (2014) found that African-American and Latino students were “suspended and expelled at higher rates than their white counterparts nationwide.” Similar findings of this disparity with suspensions and expulsions with minority students as compared to Caucasian students were reported by SDUSD in 2014 (Magee, 2014, p.E4). The San Diego Union Tribune reported that when behavior issues would arise, common practice for administrators were to default to punitive consequences such as detention, Saturday school, suspension, or in severe cases, expulsion. To address this alarming disparity among minority student discipline rates, SDUSD piloted a restorative justice program in 2014 (Magee, 2014, p.E4). Now that this program is in its second year of implementation, SDUSD reports that restorative justice practices have resulted in a decrease of suspensions and expulsion rates by approximately 60% (San Diego Unified School District, 2016a). SDUSD board policy F-2100 has proactively minimized conflict on school campuses by seeking positive behavior intervention supports (PBIS) and building strong community relationships. To be successful, there are four guiding principles that make restorative justice an equitable practice. First, accountability for a student is meaningful because they are part of the reparation process. Second, it is important to take in consideration of how to repair the harm caused by the student. Third, restorative justice ensures that there is a sense of healing achieved for the student harmed and the community. And the fourth guiding principle is how the student responsible will be positively reintegrated into the community(San Diego Unified School District, 2016a). Restorative justice practices have proven to be an effective program within our district that promotes equity amongst our diverse student population (Magee, 2014, p.E4). I think this is an exciting program that is vital to our district!