RESPONSIVE DISCIPLINE
GUIDELINES
ALL BEHAVIOR IS COMMUNICATION
Historically, schools have used a traditional, more punitive approach to discipline which can dehumanize students and create disproportionate outcomes in data. Our Responsive Discipline Guidelines program provides district teams with strategies and tools designed to increase student success in all environments.
District and school teams, which include all educational partners in the school system (i.e., teachers, administrators, parents, district, and school personnel), are challenged with reimagining the meaning and purpose of discipline, with the ultimate goal of equity and intervention for behavioral change. Our responsive discipline guideline work supports school staff with appropriate responses and interventions for positive behavioral and academic growth.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We work with your team to establish a set of universal discipline guidelines that assist school leadership with responses to student misbehavior that are grounded in restoration and skill acquisition. The guidelines will also provide guidance on the use of removals and exclusionary responses (i.e., suspensions). All educational partners' teams engage in the following process:
Restorative Practices Experience Training (in-person | 2 days)
This introductory training covers the basic tenets of restorative practices, including affective language, proactive circles, and restorative questions. Leadership, teachers, mental health practitioners, and support staff all benefit from this engaging training.
Responsive Discipline Guidelines Training (in-person | 1 day)
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Teams explore their current discipline structures and enhance them by creating restorative approaches to behavior with less punitive actions.
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Each team develops a menu of tiered interventions and responses as well as an understanding of when to employ each type of response.
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Teams are supported with tools and resources to build their district’s discipline guidelines for full implementation. They are also responsible for communicating the work with all district stakeholders.
Coaching Session (in-person/virtual | 3 days)
Teams receive virtual consultation and coaching between training/coaching sessions to complete their guidelines and implement them in each school.
KEY BENEFITS
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Equips staff with consistent tools and strategies to respond to student behaviors
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Develops a restorative mindset throughout the school community to build relationships and a more positive school climate
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Gives teachers, staff, and administrators a voice in the process
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Provides a more fully developed tiered system for responding to behavioral issues
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Aligns to the state’s adopted discipline guidelines
