Restorative Practices

Restorative Philosophy

Restorative Practices are based on principles that emphasize the importance of positive relationships in building a strong school community, and they involve processes that restore relationships when harm has occurred. Restorative Practices are indented to turn discipline and behavior management into learning opportunities for students. Restorative Practices create a school climate centered around accountability, respect, integrity, and engagement with one another. The goal is teach students to understand where they have caused harm, how it affects their school climate, and ultimately gives them the opportunity to repair the harm and learn stronger personal self management skills.

Restorative practices will be considered as a means for repairing the harm to a victim and/or the school community caused by a student's misconduct.

  • An offender choosing to participate in Restorative Practices could possibly reduce the severity of consequences related to their misconduct.

  • The victim initiates Restorative Practices.

  • Restorative Practices must be agreed upon by the victim's parent or legal guardian.

  • The participants of Restorative Practices voluntarily participate in the process.

  • Restorative Practices provide an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the harm caused to those affected by their misconduct and participate in a process of determining how to repair the harm.

  • Completing restorative processes may require the offender to apologize, complete community service, participate in counseling, pay restitution, restore material loss, or a combination of these restorative consequences.

  • The agreed upon consequences and processes to repair the harm, including a timeframe for completing them, will be included in a written agreement that is signed by all participants.

  • If the offender fails to complete the stipulations in the written agreement, the consequences of their misbehavior will be determined in accordance with all discipline policies within the student handbook.