Objectives

1. Understand the key components of positive discipline.

2. Discuss the impact of positive discipline practices on the school community.

3. Describe how restorative practices and school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports are integral within positive discipline.  

4. Identify effective strategies that support positive discipline practices. 

Concepts and Definitions

Key components of positive discipline include:

• Building capacity and support through ongoing training and education of all stakeholders.

• Examining and revising, if necessary, school policies to ensure they align with positive discipline. School discipline policies and practices are essential when creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive school community.

• Implementing Restorative Practices (RP) and Culturally Responsive Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (CR-PBIS) as foundational elements.

  • Specific strategies often utilized within positive discipline practices include the use of circles, conflict mediation and/or peer mediation, problem-solving, and the Connect Before Correct process.

Importance of Concept

Promotes Mental Well-Being: Positive and supportive discipline practices support the mental well-being of students.  A leading advocate for the mental health and wellness of children and adolescents, Mental Health America (MHA), supports school discipline policies and practices that take account of mental health conditions and emotional disturbances and provide intentional learning opportunities and resources when responding to student misbehavior. Doing so promotes behavior change in positive, non-punitive ways.

Culturally Responsive and Inclusive: Positive discipline integrates culturally responsive practices, which focus on respecting the diverse backgrounds, worldviews, experiences, and perspectives of all students. Operating from this lens, culturally responsive discipline practices create more inclusive and supportive learning environments that address cultural differences, similarities, and biases--  helping all students feel respected, valued, and honored.

• Discriminatory and exclusionary discipline practices in our nation’s schools disproportionately impact students of color, students with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities, and youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ). Reliance on exclusionary discipline has also contributed to the school-to-prison pipeline. Students who are suspended from school have an increased likelihood of having contact with the criminal justice system and are more likely to face incarceration in their lifetime.

Strength-Based Learning Environments: Positive discipline fosters supportive learning spaces where all educators respond consistently and equitably. Educators have the training (knowledge and skills) to respond from a strength-based lens that communicates care, concern, and compassion. The intentional opportunities to teach and practice new prosocial skills help build self-efficacy and autonomy among learners, develop healthy relationships with peers and adults, use healthy coping skills, and learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully.

In summary, implementing positive school discipline practices is foundational to creating school communities where all students can thrive socially, emotionally, relationally, and academically. This approach to discipline provides a strength-based and growth-oriented lens that gives students opportunities to learn and practice new skills when encountering mistakes, challenges, or behavioral concerns.

Explore the following research findings that emphasize the benefits of positive discipline practices and the connections to comprehensive school mental health.

Improve Student Behavior and School Climate

• This brief by the Learning Policy Institute reviews research illustrating the benefits of positive discipline practices for improving student behavior, decreasing the use of exclusionary discipline, and improving school climate.

Exclusionary Discipline Detrimental to Students’ Future

• • The American Institutes for Research reports that the more severe the exclusionary discipline, the greater its harmful effects on a student’s future academic performance, attendance, and behavior. 

Addresses Racial Equity

• • • The groundbreaking report, Reclaiming the Promise of Racial Equity in Education, Economics and Our Criminal Justice System, from the American Federation of Teachers, highlighted several recommendations to work toward racial equity. Of the recommendations, two focused on funding programs that provided alternatives to out-of-school suspensions. They ensured all schools were safe and welcoming spaces for students and educators by replacing zero-tolerance policies with restorative justice practices and fairer enforcement.

Individual Support Leads to Better Outcomes

• • • A personalized and individual approach to behavior modification is optimal for learning and growth. Research shows that students benefit when behavioral issues are addressed individually—instead of in the context of a pre-arranged/pre-determined set of sanctions.

Restorative Practices and School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports are integral to implementing positive discipline. Click each image below for additional information, resources, and tools.