Restorative Practices in SFUSD Schools
Restorative Practices, when broadly and consistently implemented, will promote and
strengthen positive school culture and enhance pro-social relationships within the
school community.
Directly supporting SFUSD Beyond the Talk 2.0 strategic plan, Restorative Practices
contributes to our district commitment in making social justice a reality, engaging high
achieving and joyful learners, and keeping our promises to our students and families.
Restorative Practices: A Brief Explanation
Now a common practice in many schools across the nation and world, Restorative Practices
promote building respectful relationships as the foundation for teaching and learning while
providing meaningful opportunities for students to develop self-discipline and positive behaviors in
a caring, supportive environment. It views conflict primarily through the lens of the harm caused to
people and relationships, and emphasizes the priority to meet the needs of those affected by this
harm.
A restorative approach sees conflict or misbehavior as an opportunity for students to learn about
the consequences of their actions, to develop empathy with others, and experience how to make
amends in such a way as to strengthen the community bonds that may have been damaged.
Aim of Restorative Practices
 To promote the physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing of students.
 To teach children self discipline and an understanding of the consequences of their behavior.
 To encourage respect, healing and restoration both for those who are harmed, and for those
who cause harm.
 To educate students towards self directed, cooperative and respectful behavior.
 To promote, nurture and protect healthy relationships among members of the community.
 To enable students to build personal responsibility by developing skills of reflection and
empathy.
 To guide teachers in their responses to student behavior.
 To inform students and parents about expectations of student behavior.
The Core of Restorative Practices rests with the belief that people will make positive
changes when those in positions of authority do things with them rather than to them or for
them. It puts repairing harm done to relationships and people over and above the need for
assigning blame and dispensing punishment.1
In schools, Restorative Practices/Approaches include interventions when
harm has happened, as well as practices that help to prevent harm and
conflict by helping to build a sense of belonging, safety, and social
responsibility in the school community.
Restorative Justice Principles:1
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4.
Focuses on harms and consequent needs (victim, offender, and community).
Addresses obligations resulting from those harms (offender and community/society)
Uses inclusive, collaborative processes.
Involves those with a legitimate stake in the situation (victims, offenders, community members,
school staff, society).
5. Seeks to put right the wrongs.
Principles that reflect the values and concepts for implementing restorative practices:
1.
2.
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6.
7.
Relationships are central to building community
Builds systems that address misbehavior and harm in a way that strengthens relationships.
Focuses on the harm done rather than only on rule breaking.
Gives voice to the person harmed.
Engages in collaborative problem-solving.
Empowers change and growth.
Enhances responsibility.3
Key Values:
Key Skills:
Create an ethos of respect
Inclusion
Accountability and taking responsibility
Commitment to relationships
Impartiality
Collaboration
Empowerment and emotional articulacy
Skill-based training is a vital component of
Restorative Practices.
▪ Active listening
▪ Facilitating dialogue and problem-solving
▪ Listening to and expressing emotion
▪ Empowering others to take ownership of
problems
The core of restorative practices is restoring and building
r e l a t i o n s h i p s.
Benefits of Restorative Approaches in the School Setting:
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1
A safer, more caring environment
A more effective teaching and learning environment
A greater commitment by everyone to taking the time to listen to one another
A reduction in bullying and other interpersonal conflicts
A greater awareness of the importance of connectedness to young people. The need to
belong and feel valued by peers and significant adults
Greater emphasis on responses to inappropriate behavior that seek to reconnect, and not
further disconnect young people
Reductions in fixed term and permanent suspensions and expulsions
A greater confidence in the staff team to deal with challenging situations
An increased belief in the ability of young people to take responsibility for their choices, and
more people giving them opportunities to do so.2
Amstutz, L, Mullet, J. The Little Book of Restorative Discipline for Schools. (2005)
2
Restorative Approaches/Practices in Schools, Transforming Conflict www.transformingconflict.org