Augustus F. Hawkins High, which is situated at the crossroads of multiple gang territories, almost died at its birth. A commitment to restorative justice helped save it.
Many tout the practice as a groundbreaking alternative to zero-tolerance policies and a way to alleviate discipline disparities, while some say it's being oversold as a quick fix.
New state data shows 46 percent drop in school suspensions over the last five years. The suspension rate for African American students in 2016-17 was 9.8 percent, for Latino students 3.7 percent, for white students 3.2 percent, and for Asian students 1.1 percent.
The Kern High School District in the Central Valley admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to settle because changes in school discipline reflect current policies.
Standard School District Superintendent Paul Meyers writes how adopting a restorative justice approach reduced suspensions in a problematic middle school by more than 50%.
With a big push from the state’s new approach to education spending, many California school districts appear to be ramping up investments in positive approaches to discipline.
