Restorative Practices

Restorative practices  are designed to build a strong sense of community in schools, to teach interpersonal skills, to repair harm when conflict occurs, and to proactively meet students’ needs—including those that result from trauma in or outside of school—so misbehavior is less common. Instead of punishment, restorative practices address school discipline by focusing on developing communication strategies and building relationships. Among restorative practices are classroom meetings, community building circles, and conflict resolution strategies that all adults and students use. Additionally, restorative practices include mediation strategies that can be used to resolve disagreements, help students make amends, and support students’ reentry to the school community after a challenge has occurred.