A deeper understanding of how slavery and colonialism fundamentally shaped the system of higher education in the United States has led colleges and universities to reexamine their histories and acknowledge harms committed and the need for repair. Campuses are experimenting with how to address racial justice and healing for faculty, staff, and…

This is the second story in a series of success stories focused on restorative justice work. The work featured in these stories seeks to acknowledge the impact of harmful practices and creates opportunities to heal that harm between those who enacted it and those impacted by it to transform the community. This report discusses Restorative Justice…

Restorative practices can serve as a proactive approach to address behavior in a way that not only repairs harm and restores relationships, but also creates stronger communities. Using a circle-style conversation to elicit our perceptions of the potential of these practices to support and advance liberatory principles, we sought to uncover the…

In this essay, I articulate the value of understanding antiracism from a materialist perspective, drawing from the concept of racial capitalism. I critique the lack of accounting for race in class-first paradigms of critical scholarship in music education, arguing that racial hierarchy laid the foundation for capitalist exploitation through…

This is the first story in a new series of success stories focused on restorative justice work. The work featured in these stories seeks to acknowledge the impact of harmful practices and creates opportunities to heal that harm between those who enacted it and those impacted by it to transform the community. This report discusses The Hive, which…

As of 2024-25, Roswell Independent School District has four community schools, including Sierra Middle School--entering its fifth year of implementation--and University High School--an alternative school entering its third year of implementation. Sierra and University High have each created a nourishing school climate and culture by providing…

The science of learning and development demonstrates that when young people maintain positive school-based relationships, their learning and well-being is supported and enhanced. This brief elevates the practices and approaches that secondary school educators and staff can use to put relationships and caring at the center of their practice. It…