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Restorative Practices/Alternatives to Suspension

The Board of Education is committed to creating and supporting a “culture shift” in the way the district, systematically, develops solutions to the student discipline challenges in our schools and focusing on student strengths and abilities.

Demonstration of this support was evidenced by the passage of Resolution 96-23A1 – In Support of a Comprehensive School Climate, Restorative Practices and Alternatives to Suspension/Expulsion.

The Board called for the creation of a new “Restorative Practices and School Climate Taskforce” with the charge of designing a student discipline framework based on Restorative Practices which reduces student suspensions, increases student attendance and creates school climates that support joyful learners.

The principles behind the Restorative Practices (RJ) approaches adopted by SFUSD can be found in the following materials:

• Restorative Practices – Fundamental Principles by Ron Claassen (pdf)
• Definitions of Restorative Practices (pdf)
• Annotated Bibliography – Restorative Practices in Schools (pdf)

Multiple strategies are being implemented as pilots such as Peer Courts programs, Safe School Ambassadors program and other alternative methods as a means of offering alternatives to suspensions/expulsions.

Restorative Practices Updates

• Restorative Approach Field Report 2009-2010 (Powerpoint)
• Review of RJ Task Force work from January-April 2010 (Powerpoint)

 

RJ Task Force Committees

• Discipline Policies – Student Handbook
• Program Models – What is currently in use? What are their core principles?
• Professional Development – For parents and CBOs
• Professional Development – School site adoption (change management) and implementation
• Data and Documentation

 

RJ Task Force Meetings

Meeting / Date	Topics
RJ Task Force Meeting 1: January 20, 2010	RJ Content and Process led by Rita Alfred
RJ Task Force Meeting 2: February 3, 2010	RJ Content and Process led by Rita Alfred Break Out Session Notes (doc)
RJ Task Force Meeting 3: February 17, 2010	Trauma, Brain Development and Academic Achievement led by Joyce Dorado Meeting Handouts (pdf - 12mb) Committee Selection and Process—1st work group Data/Documentation Work Group (doc) PD for Parents Work Group (doc) Program Models Work Group (doc)
RJ Data Work Group: February 24, 2010	Data Work Group Handout (pdf)
RJ Task Force Meeting 4: March 2, 2010	Committee Reports and Task Force Decisions Data Work Group Minutes (doc)
RJ Data Work Group: March 10, 2010	Data Work Group Minutes (doc)
RJ Data Work Group: March 17, 2010	Data Work Group Minutes (doc)
RJ Task Force Meeting 5: March 31, 2010	Committee Reports and Task Force Decisions
RJ Task Force Meeting 6: April 14, 2010	Review Draft of Implementation Plan and Celebration
Proposed RJ Task Force Meetings (doc)

 

Theory of Change

• Theory of Change – Discipline (doc)
• Theory of Change – Prevention (pdf)
• Theory of Change – Data (pdf)

 

School Information and Materials

• Balboa High School Information (pdf)
• Visitacion Valley Middle School (pdfs)
  Counseling Office Data
  Forms
  Policies
  Programs and Services
  

 

 

If you have questions regarding the Restorative Practices program, please Contact Us.