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Restorative Principles and Approaches Enhance PBIS Implementation

All schools need to have a foundation of relationship and community building, connection, and belonging. Restorative principles and approaches build relationships that support all students, including those with interfering behaviors.

In a restorative approach, restorative principles of exploring relationship, meaningful engagement, agency & choice, and responsibility / accountability all work together like cogs in the same machine.

four interlocking cogs: Exploring Relationship, Meaningful Engagement, Agency & Choice, Responsibility / Accountability

What do restorative approaches within PBIS look like in action?

  • Think about how your school can move from more a traditional approach to a more restorative approach. Where are you on this continuum? Where is your school? What do you need to move toward doing “with” instead of “to or for” students?

Continuum of Approaches

 

TraditionalRestorative
double-ended arrow
  • Mandatory
  • Exclusionary
  • Adult-centered
  • Punitive
  • Compliance-Driven
  • Passive Responsibility
  • Shaming
  • Focuses on blame
  • "To" / "For"
  • Voluntary participation
  • Inclusive
  • Explores relationships
  • Meaningful engagement
  • Participatory decision-making
  • Repairs harm
  • Active responsibility
  • Addresses harms and needs
  • "With"