Whole School Approach : Neighborhood Housing Services

Whole School Approach

Restorative Approaches are becoming prevalent in schools across the country. These processes develop a more positive school culture and support the social and emotional learning needs of students, as well as communication among staff. The results are positive classroom communities in which disruption is minimized and quality instructional time is maximized. Restorative Practices are evidenced-based processes that provide students, teachers and administrators with effective ways to prevent and respond to school conflict and violence and build a sense of community at every level of the school network. Restorative Practices fit seamlessly into and support existing school programs.

In July of 2009, the NHS Center for Restorative Approaches began a partnership with Walter L. Cohen High School in uptown New Orleans. We have provided training and ongoing professional development in restorative approaches to teachers and staff, as well as providing direct services through dialogue circles and community conferences when misbehavior and conflicts arise.

In our first semester of work at Cohen High School, violent conflict in the school decreased by 61% from the previous year, and by April, suspensions decreased by 12%, and the number of alternative behavior interventions increased by 179%. The discipline team regularly used restorative practices (restorative communication, accountability plans, circles and conferences) to intervene in student conflicts, as an alternative to suspension, in-school suspension, and expulsion, for re-entry after suspension, and as behavior intervention strategies. Restorative Practices were also used to address problems in the school community for staff. In addition to numbers, we have seen progress through the individual stories of people experiencing the power of restorative justice.

Funding for NHS Center for Restorative Approaches has been provided by Baptist Community Ministries Foundation.