List of School Districts using Restorative Practices
Investigations
Last Update: August 28, 2024
Summary
With the massive increase in school districts using Restorative Justice/Restorative Practices coupled with the unprecedented behavioral chaos being seen in schools, we have begun to track the school districts that use “Restorative Justice” or “Restorative Practices” as an official part of their discipline policy and/or code of conduct.
What is Restorative Justice (or Restorative Practices)?
Restorative justice is a philosophy for student discipline where reconciliation between the offender and the victim is the ultimate goal. This goal is theoretically achieved by conversations between the offender, the victim and others involved in the incident. While restorative justice practices can be effective when dealing with minor incidents, it is largely ineffective when dealing with more disruptive and violent behavior. In many school districts, restorative justice has REPLACED exclusionary discipline in schools so the response to a violent action in class is not a suspension or expulsion, but to clear the classroom and have a restorative conference.
“Restorative justice is an approach to justice where one of the responses to a misdeed, broken rule or actual crime is to organize a meeting between the victim and the offender, sometimes with representatives of the wider community. In restorative justice, reconciliation, not punishment, is the goal. The “Western” view of crime and punishment is thought to be a byproduct of colonialism.” — from our “Understanding Ethnic Studies Jargon” page.
Here is an example of how a Restorative Justice policy might look in your school district.
Below is a list of school districts by state that incorporate Restorative Practices (also called Restorative Justice) as part of district discipline. All districts included have listed these practices in writing in policy, a strategic plan, an equity plan, or their student code of conduct.
This list is not comprehensive; if you are aware of a district utilizing restorative practices that is not on the list, please notify PDE here and we will take a look.
Number of total districts: 1474
Number of total schools: 32,529
Number of total students: 18,888,823
DISTRICTS
Alabama
Alaska
Alaska Gateway School District
Aleutians East Borough School District
Denali Borough School District
Dillingham City School District
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Juneau Borough School District
Arizona
Alhambra Elementary School District
Cartwright Elementary District
Chandler Unified School District
Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary District
Continental Elementary District
Deer Valley Unified School District
Flagstaff Unified School District
Florence Unified School District
Fountain Hills Unified School District
Maricopa County Regional District
Maricopa Unified School District
Maricopa Unified School District
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District
Phoenix Elementary School District
Phoenix Union High School District
San Carlos Unified School District
Scottsdale Unified School District
Tanque Verde Unified School District
Tempe Union High School District
Tucson Unified School District
Washington Elementary School District
Yuma Elementary School District
Arkansas
Pulaski County Special School District
California
Acalanes Union High School District
Adelanto Elementary School District
Alameda Unified School District
Albany Unified School District
Alexander Valley Union School District
Alhambra Unified School District
Alpaugh Unified School District
Alpine County Unified School District
Alta Vista Elementary School District
Alview-Dairyland Union Elementary School District
Alvina Elementary Charter School
Anaheim Elementary School District
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Apple Valley Unified School District
Arcadia Unified School District
Arcata Elementary School District
Arcohe Union Elementary School District
Armona Union Elementary School District
Aromas-San Juan Unified School District
Atwater Elementary School District
Baker Valley Unified School District
Baldwin Park Unified School District
Banning Unified School District
Barstow Unified School District
Bass Lake Joint Elementary School District
Bassett Unified School District
Bear Valley Unified School District
Beaumont Unified School District
Bella Vista Elementary School District
Bellevue Union School District
Bellflower Unified School District
Belmont-Redwood Shores School District
Belridge Elementary School District
Benicia Unified School District
Bennett Valley Union School District
Berryessa Union School District
Big Pine Unified School District
Big Springs Union Elementary School District
Bishop Unified School District
Blochman Union Elementary School District
Blue Lake Elementary School District
Bolinas-Stinson Union School District
Bonsall Unified School District
Borrego Springs Unified School District
Bradley Union Elementary School District
Brawley Elementary School District
Brawley Union High School District
Brea Olinda Unified School District
Bret Harte Union High School District
Briggs Elementary School District
Buckeye Union Elementary School District
Buellton Union School District
Buena Vista Elementary School District
Burbank Unified School District
Burton Elementary School District
Byron Union Elementary School District
Cabrillo Unified School District
Cajon Valley Union School District
Calistoga Joint Unified School District
Campbell Union High School District
Campbell Union School District
Capistrano Unified School District
Cardiff Elementary School District
Carlsbad Unified School District
Carmel Unified School District
Carpinteria Unified School District
Caruthers Unified School District
Cascade Union Elementary School District
Castle Rock Union Elementary School District
Castro Valley Unified School District
Cayucos Elementary School District
Center Joint Unified School District
Centinela Valley Union High School District
Central Elementary School District
Central Unified School District
Central Union High School District
Centralia Elementary School District
Charter Oak Unified School District
Chawanakee Unified School District
Chowchilla Elementary School District
Chowchilla Union High School District
Claremont Unified School District
Cloverdale Unified School District
Coachella Valley Unified School District
Colfax Elementary School District
College Elementary School District
Colusa Unified School District
Compton Unified School District
Corcoran Joint Unified School District
Corning Union Elementary School District
Corning Union High School District
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Coronado Unified School District
Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District
Covina-Valley Unified School District
Cupertino Union School District
Curtis Creek Elementary School District
Cuyama Joint Unified School District
Davis Joint Unified School District
Delano Joint Union High School District
Denair Unified School District
Desert Center Unified School District
Desert Sands Unified School District
Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School District
Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District
Duarte Unified School District
Dublin Unified School District
Dunham Elementary School District
Dunsmuir Elementary School District
Dunsmuir Joint Union High School District
Durham Unified School District
East Nicolaus Joint Union High School District
East Whittier City Elementary School District
Eastside Union School District
Edison Elementary School District
El Centro Elementary School District
El Dorado Union High School District
El Tejon Unified School District
Elk Grove Unified School District
Encinitas Union School District
Escalon Unified School District
Escondido Union School District
Esparto Unified School District
Evergreen Union School District
Exeter Unified School District
Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
Ferndale Unified School District
Fieldbrook Elementary School District
Fillmore Unified School District
Firebaugh Las Deltas Unified School District
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Fontana Unified School District
Foresthill Union School District
Fort Bragg Unified School District
Fort Sage Unified School District
Fortuna Elementary School District
Fowler Unified School District
Franklin-McKinley Elementary School District
Fremont Union High School District
Fresno Unified School District
Galt Joint Union Elementary School District
Galt Joint Union High School District
Gateway Unified School District
Gerber Union Elementary School District
Geyserville Unified School District
Gilroy Unified School District
Glendora Unified School District
Gold Trail Union School District
Golden Feather Union School District
Golden Plains Unified School District
Grant Elementary School District
Greenfield Union Elementary School District
Greenfield Union School District
Grenada Elementary School District
Gridley Unified School District
Guadalupe Union School District
Gustine Unified School District
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Hamilton Unified School District
Hanford Elementary School District
Hanford Joint Union High School District
Happy Camp Union Elementary School District
Happy Valley Elementary School District
Happy Valley Union Elementary School District
Harmony Union Elementary School District
Hart-Ransom Union School District
Hayward Unified School District
Hermosa Beach City Elementary School District
Hesperia Unified School District
Hilmar Unified School District
Hope Elementary School District
Hope Elementary School District (Porterville)
Horicon Elementary School District
Howell Mountain Elementary School District
Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union School District
Hughson Unified School District
Huntington Beach City School District
Igo-Ono-Platina Union Elementary School District
Imperial Unified School District
Inglewood Unified School District
Island Union Elementary School District
Jamul-Dulzura Union School District
Jefferson Elementary School District
Jefferson Union High School District
John Swett Unified School District
Johnstonville Elementary School District
Junction City Elementary School District
Junction Elementary School District
Kelseyville Unified School District
Kernville Union School District
King City Union School District
Kings Canyon Unified School District
Kings River Union Elementary School District
Kings River-Hardwick School District
Kingsburg Joint Union High School District
Kit Carson Union Elementary School District
Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District
Knightsen Elementary School District
Konocti Unified School District
La Canada Unified School District
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
Lake Elementary School District
Lake Elsinore Unified School District
Lake Tahoe Unified School District
Lakeport Unified School District
Lakeside Joint School District
Lakeside Union School District
Lammersville Unified School District
Lamont Elementary School District
Las Lomitas Elementary School District
Las Virgenes Unified School District
Lawndale Elementary School District
Laytonville Unified School District
Le Grand Union Elementary School District
Le Grand Union High School District
Lemoore Union Elementary School District
Lemoore Union High School District
Lewistown Elementary School District
Liberty Elementary School District
Liberty Elementary School District
Linden Unified School District
Lindsay Unified School District
Little Lake City School District
Live Oak Unified School District
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
Long Beach Unified School District
Los Alamitos Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Lucerne Valley Unified School District
Lucia Mar Unified School District
Luther Burbank School District
Lynwood Unified School District
Madera Unified School District
Mammoth Unified School District
Manhattan Beach Unified School District
Manteca Unified School District
Marcum-Illinois Union Elementary School District
Maricopa Unified School District
Mark Twain Union Elementary School District
Martinez Unified School District
Marysville Joint Unified School District
Mattole Unified School District
Maxwell Unified School District
McCabe Union Elementary School District
McFarland Unified School District
McKinleyville Union School District
McKittrick Elementary School District
McSwain Union Elementary School District
Meadows Union Elementary School District
Mendota Unified School District
Millbrae Elementary School District
Milpitas Unified School District
Modoc Joint Unified School District
Mojave Unified School District
Monson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District
Montecito Union School District
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
Moorpark Unified School District
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Morgan Hill Unified School District
Morongo Unified School District
Mountain Elementary School District
Mountain Empire Unified School District
Mountain Union Elementary School
Mountain Valley Unified School District
Mountain View Elementary School District
Mountain View Los Altos High School District
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Napa Valley Unified School District
Needles Unified School District
Nevada Joint Union High School
Newark Unified School District
Newcastle Elementary School District
Newport-Mesa Unified School District
North County Joint Union School District
North Cow Creek School District
North Monterey County Unified School District
Novato Unified School District
Oak Grove Union School District
Oak Valley Union Elementary School District
Oak View Elementary School District
Oakdale Joint Unified School District
Oakley Union Elementary School District
Oakland Unified School District
Oceanside Unified School District
Old Adobe Union School District
Ontario-Montclair School District
Orland Unified School District
Pacific Grove Unified School District
Pacific Union Elementary School District
Pacific Union Elementary School District
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Palm Springs Unified School District
Palo Alto Unified School District
Palo Verde Unified School District
Palo Verde Union School District
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
Paradise Unified School District
Paramount Unified School District
Parlier Unified School District
Paso Robles Joint Unified School District
Patterson Joint Unified School District
Peninsula Union Elementary School District
Perris Elementary School District
Perris Union High School District
Pierce Joint Unified School District
Pine Ridge Elementary School District
Piner-Olivet Union School District
Pioneer Union Elementary School District
Pioneer Union Elementary School District (Hanford)
Pioneer Union Elementary School District (Somerset)
Pittsburg Unified School District
Placer Hills Union School District
Placer Union High School District
Placerville Union School District
Planada Elementary School District
Pleasant Ridge Union School District
Pleasant Valley School District
Pleasant View Elementary School District
Pleasanton Unified School District
Plumas Unified School District
Plumas Lake Elementary School District
Pollock Pines Elementary School District
Pope Valley Union Elementary School District
Porterville Unified School District
Portola Valley School District
Princeton Joint Unified School District
Ramona Unified School District
Ravenswood City School District
Red Bluff Joint Union High School District
Red Bluff Union Elementary School District
Redlands Unified School District
Redondo Beach Unified School District
Reeds Creek Elementary School District
Reef-Sunset Unified School District
Rialto Unified School District
Richfield Elementary School District
Richmond Elementary School District
Rim of the World Unified School District
Rincon Valley Union School District
Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District
River Delta Unified School District
Riverbank Unified School District
Riverdale Joint Unified School District
Riverside Unified School District
Rocklin Unified School District
Roseville City School District
Roseville Joint Union High School District
Round Valley Joint Elementary School District
Round Valley Unified School District
Rowland Unified School District
Sacramento City Unified School District
Salinas City Elementary School District
San Ardo Union Elementary School District
San Benito High School District
San Bernardino City Unified School District
San Bruno Park School District
San Diego Unified School District
San Francisco Unified School District
San Gabriel Unified School District
San Jacinto Unified School District
San Jose Unified School District
San Juan Unified School District
San Leandro Unified School District
San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
San Lucas Union Elementary School District
San Luis Coastal Unified School District
San Marcos Unified School District
San Marino Unified School District
San Mateo Union High School District
San Mateo-Foster City School District
San Miguel Joint Union School District
San Pasqual Union School District
San Pasqual Valley Unified School District
San Rafael City School District
San Ramon Valley Unified School District
Santa Ana Unified School District
Santa Barbara Unified School District
Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
Santa Maria-Bonita School District
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Santa Paula Unified School District
Santa Rita Union Elementary School District
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District
Saratoga Union School District
Sausalito Marin City School District
Scott Valley Unified School District
Scotts Valley Unified School District
Sebastopol Union School District
Sequoia Union High School District
Shaffer Union Elementary School District
Shasta Union Elementary School District
Shasta Union High School District
Shoreline Unified School District
Sierra Sands Unified School District
Sierra Unified School District
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District
Silver Fork Elementary School District
Simi Valley Unified School District
Snowline Joint Unified School District
Siskiyou Union High School District
Soledad Unified School District
Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Sonora Union High School District
Soquel Union Elementary School District
South Bay Union Elementary School District
South Bay Union School District
South Fork Union School District
South San Francisco Unified School District
South Whittier School District
Southern Humboldt Joint Unified School District
Southern Kern Unified School District
Southern Trinity Joint Unified School District
Spreckels Union School District
St. Helena Unified School District
Standard Elementary School District
Stanislaus Union Elementary School District
Stockton Unified School District
Stony Creek Joint Unified School District
Strathmore Union Elementary School District
Sulphur Springs Union School District
Summerville Elementary School District
Sundale Union Elementary School District
Sunol Glen Unified School District
Surprise Valley Joint Unified School District
Sweetwater Union High School District
Tahoe Truckee Unified School District
Tamalpais Union High School District
Tehachapi Unified School District
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Temple City Unified School District
Templeton Unified School District
Thermalito Union School District
Tipton Elementary School District
Torrance Unified School District
Travis Unified School District
Trinidad Union Elementary School District
Trinity Alps Unified School District
Trona Joint Unified School District
Tulare Joint Union High School
Tulelake Basin Joint Unified School District
Turlock Unified School District
Tustin Unified School District
Twin Rivers Unified School District
Two Rock Union School District
Union Hill Elementary School District
Upland Unified School District
Upper Lake Unified School District
Val Verde Unified School District
Valle Lindo Elementary School District
Vallecito Union School District
Vallejo City Unified School District
Ventura Unified School District
Victor Valley Union High School District
Visalia Unified School District
Vista Del Mar Union School District
Warner Unified School District
Wasco Union Elementary School District
Washington Colony Elementary School District
Washington Unified School District
Washington Union Elementary School District
Waterford Unified School District
Waugh Elementary School District
Weed Union Elementary School District
West Contra Costa Unified School District
West Side Union Elementary School District
West Sonoma County Union High School District
Western Placer Unified School District
Westside Elementary School District
Westside Union Elementary School District
Westwood Unified School District
Wheatland Union High School District
Whittier City Elementary School District
William S. Hart Union High School District
Williams Unified School District
Willits Unified School District
Willows Unified School District
Windsor Unified School District
Wiseburn Unified School District
Woodlake Unified School District
Woodland Joint Unified School District
Woodside Elementary School District
Woodville Union School District
Wright Elementary School District
Yosemite Unified School District
Yreka Union High School District
Yuba City Unified School District
Colorado
Boulder Valley School District
Douglas County School District
Fountain-Fort Carson School District
Greenley-Evans Weld County School District – 6
Jefferson County Public Schools
Mesa County Valley School District 51
Connecticut
Consolidated School District of New Britain
Delaware
New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District
Florida
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Palm Beach County School District
School District of Manatee County
Georgia
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Hawai’i
Idaho
Illinois
Champaign Unit School District 4
Community High School District 99
Community Unit School District 5
Community Unit School District 200
Community Unit School District 300
Dekalb Community Unified School District
Dolton West School District 148
Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205
Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401
Hinsdale Township High School District 86
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Indian Prairie School District 204
Joliet Public Schools District 86
Maine Township High School District 207
Millstadt Community Consolidated School District 160
Naperville Community Unit School District 203
Oak Park and River Forest High School
Oswego Community Unit School District 308
School District 54 (Schaumburg)
Springfield Public Schools District 186
Township High School District 113
Township High School District 211
Valley View School District 365U
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
West Northfield School District 31
Indiana
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence
South Bend Community School Corporation
Iowa
Cedar Rapids Community School District
Des Moine Independent Community School District
Iowa City Community School District
Kansas
Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
Shawnee Mission School District
Kentucky
Jefferson County Public Schools
Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools
Maine
Maryland
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools
Frederick County Public Schools
Howard County Public School System
Montgomery County Public Schools
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Washington County Public Schools
Massachusetts
Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools
Berkshire Hills Regional School District
Berlin-Boylston Regional School District
Blackstone-Millville Regional School District
Concord-Carlisle Regional School District
Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District
East Bridgewater Public Schools
Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District
Nashoba Regional School District
Old Rochester Regional School District
Pioneer Valley Regional School District
Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District
Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District
Silver Lake Regional School District
Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational Technical School District
Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District
Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical School District
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School District
Michigan
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
West Bloomfield School District
West Shore Educational Service District
Minnesota
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191
Faribault Public School District
Red Lake Independent School District
Mississippi
Missouri
Francis Howell School District
Maplewood Richmond Heights School District
The School District of Clayton
Wright City R-II School District
Montana
Cayuse Prairie School District #10
Chester-Joplin-Inverness Public Schools
Dillon Elementary School District
Florence-Carlton School District
Helena Flats School District #15
Kalispell Public School District 5
Medicine Lake School District #7
Miles City Unified School District
S Y Elementary School District
Sun River Valley School District
Sweet Grass County High School
Trinity Elementary School District
West Glacier Elementary School
Nebraska
Nevada
Churchill County School District
Douglas County School District
Humboldt County School District
Lincoln County School District
Mineral County School District
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
East Brunswick Board of Education
Edison Township Public Schools
Egg Harbor Township School District
Franklin Township Public Schools
Gloucester Township School District
Hamilton Township School District (Hamilton)
Hillsborough Township Public Schools District
Hoboken Public School District
Irvington Public Schools School District
Jackson Township School District
Lenape Regional High School District
Middletown Township Public Schools
Monroe Township School District
Old Bridge Township School District
Piscataway Township School District
Plainfield Public School District
South Brunswick School District
South Orange-Maplewood School District
Toms River Regional School District
Township of Union Public Schools
Trenton Public School District
Washington Township School District
West Orange Public Schools District
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
Westfield Public School District
New Mexico
Central Consolidated School District
Gadsden Independent School District
Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
Moriarty-Edgewood School District
Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools
Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools
New York
Brentwood Union Free School District
City School District of Albany
City School District of New Rochelle
East Ramapo Central School District
Irvington Union Free School District
Longwood Central School District
Newburgh Enlarged City School District
North Syracuse Central Schools
Rochester City School District
Sachem Central School District
Schenectady City School District
Silver Creek Central School District
Wappingers Central School District
Williamsville Central School District
North Carolina
Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools
Wake County Public School System
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
North Dakota
Bismarck Public Schools District 1
Ohio
Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Oklahoma
Oregon
Gresham-Barlow School District
Tigard-Tualatin School District
West Linn-Wilsonville School District
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem Area School District
Boyertown Area School District
Chambersburg Area School District
Coatesville Area School District
Cumberland Valley School District
Downington Area School District
Hatboro-Horsham School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
Lehighton Area School District
Pocono Mountain School District
Quakertown Community School District
State College Area School District
The School District of Philadelphia
Titusville Area School District
West Chester Area School District
West Mifflin Area School District
Rhode Island
East Providence School Department
Little Compton School Department
North Kingstown School Department
North Providence Public Schools
South Kingstown School District
Woonsocket Education Department
South Carolina
Berkeley County School District
Charleston County School District
South Dakota
Tennessee
Metro Nashville Public Schools
Texas
Austin Independent School District
Clear Creek Independent School District
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Dallas Independent School District
El Paso Independent School District
Fort Worth Independent School District
Garland Independent School District
Grapeville-Collyville Independent School District
Houston Independent School District
Klein Independent School District
Lamar Consolidated Independent School District
Leander Independent School District
Melissa Independent School District
Round Rock Independent School District
San Antonio Independent School District
Socorro Independent School District
Utah
Salt Lake City School District
Vermont
Essex Westford School District
Virginia
Albemarle County Public Schools
Alexandria City Public Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools
Fauquier County Public Schools
Frederick County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools
Prince William County Public Schools
Rockingham County Public Schools
Stafford County Public Schools
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Willamsburg James City County Public Schools
Washington
Central Kitsap School District
Lake Washington School District
North Thurston School District
Sumner-Bonney Lake School District
Washington D.C.
District of Columbia Public Schools
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Eau Claire Area School District
Green Bay Area Public School District
Madison Metropolitan School District
Middle-Cross Plains Area School District
Racine Unified School District
Sheboygan Area School District
Sun Prairie Area School District
Wyoming
Fremont County School District #25
Additional information on Restorative Practices:
Discipline in Schools: What Parents Need to Know
Understanding School Discipline Jargon
Stay Informed