California School District Implements Restorative Justice Programs to Replace Suspensions and Expulsions: Report

A California school district, Poway Unified School District, has been promoting "restorative justice" training sessions as an alternative to traditional punishments for misbehaving students. The district defines restorative justice as an approach to conflict resolution that focuses on repairing harm through inclusive processes. The district offers a five-day course for students in response to misbehavior or "hate behavior" incidents, emphasizing repairing harm rather than punishment. The program provides alternatives to suspension, transfer, and expulsion, with these punishments only considered after other means of correction have failed. Critics argue that restorative justice fails to provide real consequences for bad behavior and hinders the learning environment.