Restorative Justice in Schools: Does It Reduce Suspensions?

Schools across the United States are fundamentally changing how they handle student discipline. For decades, “zero-tolerance” policies were the standard, resulting in automatic suspensions or expulsions for specific infractions. Today, educators and administrators are pivoting toward restorative justice. This approach focuses on mediation circles and conflict resolution rather than exclusion. The goal is to keep students in the classroom while holding them accountable, but does the data support the hype?

Understanding the Shift from Zero Tolerance

To understand why schools are adopting restorative justice, you must first look at what they are leaving behind. Zero-tolerance policies gained popularity in the 1990s, often mandating suspension for offenses ranging from bringing a weapon to school to minor “willful defiance.”

The results of zero tolerance were stark. According to the Department of Education, millions of students are suspended annually. Critics argue this created a “school-to-prison pipeline,” where students—disproportionately Black and Latino students—are pushed out of the educational environment and into the justice system.

Restorative justice offers a different path. Instead of asking “What rule was broken and what is the punishment?” restorative practices ask:

• What happened?
• Who was harmed?
• What needs to be done to make things right?

How Restorative Justice Works in Practice

Restorative justice is not simply the absence of punishment. It is a structured system of accountability. When a student misbehaves, they are not just sent home; they must face the people they impacted.

The Tiered Approach

Most schools implement this in three tiers:

1. Tier 1 (Community Building): Teachers hold daily or weekly “circles” to build relationships. Students sit in a circle and answer a prompt. This builds the trust required to handle conflicts later.
2. Tier 2 (Harm Repair): When a specific conflict occurs (like a fight or bullying), a facilitator leads a mediation circle with the involved students. They discuss the root cause and agree on a way to repair the harm.
3. Tier 3 (Reintegration): This is for serious offenses. If a student has been removed from class or suspended, a conference is held to welcome them back and establish a plan for success so the behavior does not repeat.

Real-World Application: Oakland Unified School District

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in California is often cited as the gold standard for this implementation. They began shifting toward restorative justice around 2005. By focusing on “willful defiance” suspensions—which are subjective and often minor—OUSD drastically changed their discipline numbers.

Over a six-year period following the expansion of these programs, OUSD reported a decline in the suspension rate for African American students by roughly 40%. The district moved from a punitive model to one where peer juries and conflict mediation became the first response.

Does It Actually Reduce Suspensions?

The short answer is yes. When implemented correctly with fidelity, restorative justice significantly lowers suspension rates.

• Chicago Public Schools: A study by the University of Chicago Education Lab found that restorative justice programming reduced student arrests by 35% and out-of-school suspensions by 18%.
• Denver Public Schools: After implementing restorative practices, the district saw a nearly 50% reduction in suspensions over a seven-year period.
• California State Trends: As the state moved to ban suspensions for “willful defiance” in lower grades (influenced by restorative philosophies), overall suspension rates dropped statewide.

However, the reduction in suspension numbers does not always equal an immediate improvement in school climate.

The “Implementation Gap”

A major criticism of the movement is that some districts remove the ability to suspend students without providing the funding and staff to handle the restorative alternative.

Restorative justice requires time. A suspension takes ten minutes of administrative paperwork. A restorative circle can take two hours and requires a trained facilitator. When districts ban suspensions but fail to hire restorative justice coordinators, teachers report feeling unsupported and chaotic classrooms can result. In cities like Los Angeles and New York, teacher unions have occasionally pushed back, noting that without proper resources, the removal of traditional discipline leaves educators with few tools to manage disruptive behavior.

The Cost of Restorative Justice

Implementing these programs is an investment. It is not merely a policy change; it is a personnel cost.

• Training: All staff members need training on how to run circles and de-escalate conflict.
• Personnel: Successful schools often hire a full-time Restorative Justice Coordinator. This salary usually ranges from $50,000 to $90,000 depending on the region.
• Time: Instructional time is occasionally used for community-building circles.

While the upfront cost is high, advocates argue the long-term savings are higher. Keeping a student in school generates state funding (based on daily attendance) and reduces the massive societal costs associated with the juvenile justice system.

Accountability vs. Permissiveness

A common misconception is that restorative justice means “no consequences.” Critics worry it is too soft on students who disrupt the learning environment for others.

Proponents argue that sitting in a circle and facing the person you harmed is actually harder than sitting at home playing video games during a suspension. It forces the student to take ownership. For example, if a student vandalizes a classroom, a restorative consequence isn’t just an apology; it might involve spending Saturday helping the custodial staff clean the school. This is “restitution” rather than just detention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does restorative justice work for bullying?

Yes, but it requires caution. In cases of bullying, there is a power imbalance. Putting a victim and a bully in a circle immediately can be traumatizing for the victim. Schools often use “shuttle diplomacy” first, where a facilitator speaks to parties separately, or they focus on behavior correction for the bully before bringing the parties together.

How long does it take to see results?

It is not an overnight fix. Experts from the International Institute for Restorative Practices suggest it takes three to five years to fully shift a school’s culture. In the first year, suspension rates might even stay flat as staff learns the new system.

Can a student still be suspended in a restorative school?

Yes. Restorative justice does not eliminate suspension for severe safety threats (like weapons or extreme violence). However, even in those cases, the return to school includes a “reentry circle” to ensure the student is reintegrated safely and the community feels secure.

Is this mandated by law?

It depends on the location. California and Illinois have passed legislation effectively forcing schools to exhaust other means of correction before resorting to suspension for minor offenses. This legally compels schools to adopt restorative-style practices, even if they don’t use the specific label.