This dissertation project interrogates the efficacy of restorative justice practices in repairing interconnections, human dignity, and social responsibility. More specifically, I analyze how these practices enable the creation of more relational spaces/relational ecologies in higher education in the United States. Using a collaborative…

This study analyzes several leading restorative practices programs in Higher Education as they relate to student conduct. The purpose of this study is to craft a best practice model of restorative justice within the framework of student conduct work in higher education. This study uses a qualitative approach to establish the learning outcomes of…

This paper aims to detect the motivations, structures, and conditions that both promote and hinder commitment and buy-in regarding the implementation of restorative practices in schools. In addition, the components that contribute to the long-term sustainability of the restorative idea in school settings are also identified. The article summarizes…

This paper utilizes a dissertation-in-practice model (Storey et al., 2015) wherein scholar-practitioners examine the implementation of teacher professional learning in the areas of culturally responsive practice (Gay, 2000; Ladson-Billings, 2001; Brown, 2004; Bondy, 2007; Lambeth & Smith, 2016; Chang & Viesca, 2022), implicit bias (Mason…

This study explored the impact of secondary administrator perceptions on implementing restorative discipline practices in Texas middle school campuses. Ten secondary middle school administrators from diverse Texas school districts that utilized restorative practices for non-expellable offenses participated in open-ended, semi-structured…

Youth vaping is a concern and schools may use many approaches to discipline students caught vaping at school. This study identified the prevalence of school staff seeing vaping in schools and the measures used to discipline students. A state-wide sample of 7,938 staff from 255 middle and high schools reported whether they saw any students vaping…

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental study was to explore the association between school success after the tier-one introduction of a three-tiered restorative practices program. To understand school success, student factors were examined using middle school data from a suburban school district located outside of a large metropolitan…

Undesirable behavior happens in schools and has often been punished by suspending and expelling students who misbehave. Exclusionary practices like these deprive students of educational opportunity and have not been shown to improve behavior or school climate. Negative consequences include the school to prison pipeline, which refers to a…

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…

Restorative practices (RP) have been shown through research to produce positive results on school culture and reductions in measures of exclusionary discipline especially when a whole-school and culture change approach is utilized. Further, the benefits of RP include fostering community, belonging, and supporting the development of positive…

Disproportionate rates of behavioral problem reporting and consequences for African American males have occurred for decades. With the consequences surrounding problem behaviors typically removing the student from the classroom, whether to the principal's office or for an in-school or out-of-school suspension, time spent in the classroom for…

This qualitative case study focused on examining the perceptions of alternative schoolteachers' who use restorative practice circles regarding student relationships, classroom climate, and student connectedness. The problem that was addressed in this study is that some teachers find it difficult to build relationships with at-risk students which…

This study aimed to advance the use of restorative justice and restorative approaches in graduate academic environments and contributed to the research on implementing the whole-school approach in higher education. The focus of this study was on applying restorative approaches to build community and strengthen relationships among community members…

Punitive discipline has been utilized in American schools for many years, but restorative justice practices are becoming more common. The researcher examined the literature surrounding punitive discipline and restorative justice practices. The design and purpose of this study was intended to help schools avoid the problems that punitive discipline…

Research suggests individuals' support for harsher sanctions for wrongdoers increase in association with the perceived severity of the harm caused. To date, however, research has focused mostly on retributive modes of punishment and has less often addressed restorative sanctions. Furthermore, research has documented racial disparities in conduct…