Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices are used in Lake County Schools to strengthen relationships between individuals through positive discourse and responsible decision making. In Lake County Schools, Restorative Practices are not used as an alternative to student discipline but rather as a proactive tool to reduce incidents of student misbehavior by teaching self-control and self-management while holding all students accountable for their actions. 

Restorative Practices focus on personal responsibility, character and grit while providing structures and strategies that help students learn to work together to solve problems. Individual and group conversations provide a way for students to share their thoughts and ideas while developing an understanding of differing perspectives and the importance of compromise and working together to build strong and supportive connections within schools and communities. 

In schools, the use of Restorative Practices has been found to:

• reduce misbehavior, violence and bullying through civil discourse;

• increase instructional time;

• increase school safety through healthy approaches to conflict resolution;

• improve school climate by understanding the importance of empathy, kindness, and trust; and

• improve relationships by working together to achieve positive outcomes.