Use preventive disciplinary and restorative justice approaches rather than exclusionary discipline for students experiencing homelessness¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

This strategy replaces school-removal discipline (suspensions and expulsions) with preventive and restorative approaches that repair relationships and address underlying causes of behavior. The report states "Studies find that preventive disciplinary and restorative justice approaches focused on repairing relationships and addressing the underlying causes of behavior are more successful at preventing minor behavioral issues from escalating into crises and can support a positive school climate." It argues exclusionary discipline disrupts the stability school provides and can lead to disengagement and lower outcomes for this already-traumatized population.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• School and district disciplinary policy and practices oriented toward repairing relationships rather than removal

Constraints¶

• Students experiencing homelessness are more likely to have suffered trauma or stressors outside school, which the report says can result in increased behavioral issues

Target Learners¶

• K–12 students experiencing homelessness, especially students of color who face elevated suspension rates

Target Learning Goals¶

• School engagement, positive school climate, and continued participation in learning

Related Strategies¶

• Replace exclusionary discipline for low-level offenses with social-emotional skill teaching, educator supports, implicit-bias training, and relationship-centered schools
• Use educative and restorative behavior supports rather than punitive and exclusionary discipline

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Burns, D., Espinoza, D., Ondrasek, N., & Yang, M. (2021). Students experiencing homelessness: The conditions and outcomes of homelessness among California students. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/students-experiencing-homelessness