An Introduction to Restorative Practices Fostering Healthy Relationships and Promoting Positive Discipline in Schools Presented by Sapphira Ha, MPH Candidate California State University, Long Beach

Outcome Objectives Participants will: Understand the core philosophy of Restorative Practices Be able to give an example for each part of the Restorative Practices Continuum Understand how Restorative Practices can be integrated within MTSS Know how restorative practices can change school culture

Restorative Practices in Schools are inspired by the philosophy and practices of restorative justice, which puts repairing harm done to relationships and people over and above the need for assigning blame and dispensing punishment.  Source: Lucille Eber. 7th Annual NYC PBIS Leadership Summit June 13, 2014

School-to-Prison Pipeline Juvenile Detention or Secure Commitment Re-entry SCHOOL Suspension & Expulsion With traditional punitive discipline practices – zero tolerance policies Just 1 suspension doubles a student’s risk of dropping out Dropping Out Adult Prison

California Education Code ED Code 48900.5. states: (a) Suspension, …, shall be imposed only when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. (b) Other means of correction include, but are not limited to, the following: Participation in a restorative justice program. A positive behavior support approach with tiered interventions that occur during the school day on campus.

Education Code 48900(k) Defiance Suspension and Expulsion

High School Dropouts, by Race/Ethnicity: 2010 - 2013 Definition: Percentage of public high school students who drop out of high school, based on the four-year adjusted cohort dropout rate, by race/ethnicity (e.g., 2013 figures show that 13.9% of the Hispanic/Latino students who started high school in 2009 statewide dropped out). The adjusted cohort dropout rate measures the percentage of students who exit grades 9-12 without a high school diploma, GED, or special education certificate of completion and do not remain enrolled after the end of the fourth year. Data Source: As cited on kidsdata.org, California Dept. of Education, California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) (Oct. 2014).

in “Restorative Practices keep students school, learning, rather than removing them for suspension or expulsion…” in

What are Restorative Practices (RP)? Restorative Practices are a framework for building community and for responding to challenging behavior through authentic dialogue, coming to understanding, and making things right. International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP)

Core Philosophy of Restorative Practices Human beings are happier, more productive and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things WITH them, rather than TO them or FOR them. Ted Wachtel Founder, International Institute for Restorative Practices

The Social Discipline Window Way to choose to exercise authority is a decision you get to make, how you choose to engage with students, staff, parents Two main factors : control and support The control is the limit-setting, the discipline, the parameters, the expectations, and the support is the encouragement, the nurturing, the care, the love

Paradigm Shift Adversarial Restorative What rule was broken? Who’s to blame? What punishment does the offender deserve? Who was harmed? What harm resulted? What needs to be done to make things right?

A Continuum of Restorative Practices INFORMAL Affective Statements Affective Questions Small Impromptu Conference Group or Circle Formal Conference FORMAL McCold & Wachtel, 2001

Affective Statements Most informal side of continuum Core to all of restorative practices Provide students and teachers opportunity to express feelings, both positive & negative Cultivate empathy and learn social and emotional skills Example of sentence structure: “I feel/am ________(emotion)_________when/that you_________(behavior)___________.”

Affective Questions Gives both sides opportunity to share their story and be heard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lllaTksKtw Show clip of Student Voices Circle Activity?

Formal Restorative Conference Structured circle, script Facilitator, offender(s), victim(s), friends & family of both parties Victim-sensitive process and reintegration of offender Problem-solving method where both parties contribute In lieu of disciplinary action or as a supplement

Integrating Restorative Practices into A Multi-tiered Framework Repair Harm & Restore Relationships Formal restorative conference Maintaining Relationships Impromptu conferences Circles for problem-solving & conflict resolution Build Community & Relationships Community-building Circles (student & staff) Affective Questions Affective Statements Prevention & Intervention

Whole-School Outcomes with Implementation Fidelity REDUCED Misbehavior Violence & bullying Suspensions & expulsions Teacher & student absenteeism INCREASED Instructional time Safety IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS & ATTTITUDES AMONG Students, staff, administration and parents IIRP, 2011

Source: IIRP Graduate School (2014) Source: IIRP Graduate School (2014). Improving School Climate: Evidence from Schools Implementing Restorative Practices. Retrieved from http://www.iirp.edu/pdf/ImprovingSchoolClimate.pdf

Ongoing Research RAND study funded by NIH: randomized controlled trials (RCT) for restorative practices in 16 Maine schools Five-year project: Begin implementation 2014-15 school year RAND and IIRP study funded by U.S. Department of Justice Comprehensive School Safety Initiative: RCT to implement IIRP’s SaferSanerSchools Whole-School Change Program at 25 Philadelphia schools Implementation in 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years Johns Hopkins University funded by Atlantic Philanthropies: RCT to evaluate IIRP’s SaferSanerSchools Whole-School Change Program in 15 urban schools nationwide Three-year study

Orange County Dept. of Education Restorative Practice Initiative Goal: Build county office and school district capacity & expertise Ongoing trainings for school staff RP Community Network for implementation support Support a cadre of trainers Website of resources & supports 1:10-4:05 http://www.healthiersf.org/RestorativePractices/media/restorative_practices_and_san_francisco_public_schools_640x360.mp4

www.ocde.us/healthyminds/pages/rp_resources

http://www.ocde.us/HealthyMinds/Pages/Restorative_Practices.aspx

International Institute for Restorative Practices http://www.iirp.edu/ Professional Development Trainings Free Webinars: http://www.iirp.edu/webinars.php Certificate of Restorative Practices Master of Science in Restorative Practices

Thank you!