Student and Family Support and Engagement
Restorative Justice
Empowering the Student Voice to Facilitate Student Success
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is an approach to building community, self-care, and conflict resolution. It's a social justice platform that allows students to:
- Actively engage and problem-solve physical, psychological, social and disciplinary issues that affect themselves and the community.
- Take responsibility for their actions.
- Work with those affected to restore and/or repair the members and community who were harmed as a result of those actions.
Restorative Justice Practices
Listen to how restorative practices focus on relationships, responsibility, and accountability
Principles of Restorative Justice
We work together to foster the physical, social, psychological, and academic well-being of students, staff, and families through:
Building Community: Strengthen relationships and build community by encouraging a safe and caring school climate.
Self-Care: Reduce, prevent, and improve harmful behaviors.
Conflict Resolution: Increase accountability through identifying problems and solutions and restoring positive relationships.
The MCPS Restorative Justice Unit will prepare and engage all stakeholders in restorative practices through meaningful trainings, school-level support, collegial collaboration, and supported community partnerships.
Restorative Justice Parent Workshops
Interactive workshops provide families with an overview of restorative justice practices and illustrate how they are successfully used in schools.
Restorative Justice Menu of Services: Information and resources on the philosophy of Restorative Justice and the different levels of support provided to schools.
Participation in the Evaluation of Restorative Justice and Behavioral Intervention Supports Study
MCPS has partnered with RAND Corporation to conduct a study of school behavior management strategies, specifically restorative justice and positive behavioral intervention supports (PBIS). RAND will collect student perspectives through observations and student surveys throughout this three-year evaluation cycle.
For more information about the RAND Corporation and the study, please refer to the resources below:
Parent Consent Form for Student Participation
Parent Consent Form for Student Participation en Español
Study Information Webinar Slides
Study Information Slides en Español
Contact Us
Office Phone Number: 240-740-4014
Interested in bringing Restorative Justice to your school? Complete the Restorative Justice Sign-Up Form.