Education Spotlight: Restorative Justice / Restorative Discipline
Updated: Dec 11, 2022
Below is a growing log of information about the topic at hand. There is no written article or blog from Texans Wake Up located within. The information is pulled from the link at the top of each listing. This is simply being used as an ongoing repository of data surrounding a topic or person to be used for reference and, might possibly, start to form a picture. The emphasis is on Texas, where applicable. Views may not be in line with TWU, but are put there for understanding and later blog article reference.
Restorative Discipline Practices in Texas
Texas Gateway for Online Resources by TEA
Present
Restorative Discipline Practices in Texas began in the fall of 2015. The Texas Education Agency partnered with the Institute for Restorative Justice and Restorative Dialogue at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work to participate in a statewide roll out.
A grant provided training to ten of the twenty education service centers and to school districts in Texas. The first ten service centers were selected based on the number of African American males who were suspended from school districts within their regions. The training occurred in two parts. The first part included a two-day administrator readiness training, the second part a five-day coordinator training. The remaining ten service centers will receive the same training.
The goal is to plant the restorative discipline practices seeds across Texas. 1,400 administrators and 400 coordinators received training as of fall 2016.
Click here to watch the below videos on Restorative Discipline Practices:
Part 1: History of Restorative Discipline Practices
Part 2: Setting the Tone and Norms
Part 4: Experiencing the Circle
Part 5: A Tool in the Toolbelt
Part 6: Building Relationships to Reduce Disciplinary Issues
TEA has RDP trainings and a district can earn a RDP badge.
After serving as the senior advisor to the Texas commissioner of education, Dr. Gaye Lang was appointed to her current position as the director for restorative practices for the Texas Education Agency.
Father and daughter speak out after trans female changed in locker room
by Fox News
10/27/2022
Minute 2:52 shows how restorative justice (circles) are being used in the US.
Frisco ISD Students Arrested for Assaulting Another boy in School
Police charged two Lone Star High School students with injuring a disabled individual, a felony. The assault is on video.
by Erin Anderson w/Texas Scorecard
09/16/2022
Midland ISD Child Dies & Educator Speaks Out
08/29/2022
by Danell Beacham
See Education Spotlight: Angelica Ramsey for more information on the MISD Superintendent.
Texas HB 1525
Texas Legislature Online
06/16/2021
HB 1525 from 87(R)
Caption Text: Relating to the public school finance system and public education.
Author: Huberty(R) | VanDeaver(R) | King, Ken(R) | Dutton(D) | González, Mary(D)
Coauthor: Capriglione(R) | Lopez(D) | Lozano(R) | Morales Shaw(D) | Morales, Eddie(D) | Spiller(R)
Sponsor: Taylor(R) Cosponsor: Bettencourt(R) | Lucio(D) | Paxton(R)
A portion of the bill updated Section 48.115. of the Texas Education code (Title 2. Public Education, Subtitle I. School Finance and Fiscal Management, Chapter 48. Foundation School Program, Subchapter A. General Provisions which can be found here and is displayed below:
You can see the bill language of...
(i) providing licensed counselors, social workers, and individuals trained in restorative discipline and restorative justice practices;
and
(v) developing and implementing programs focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant instruction, and providing mental health support; and
which falls under Sec. 48.115 School Safety Allotment (b) (3) (C) (i) and (v). This bill was signed into law on 06/16/2021 by Governor Abbott and this section became effective 09/01/2021.
Which Texas House Republicans authored OR co-authored this bill?
Huberty(R) | VanDeaver(R) | King, Ken(R) Capriglione(R) Lozano(R)
Who lives in the Texas Panhandle? Ken King (R)
Was the restorative text in the original bill?
No
Amend CSHB 1525 (senate committee report) in SECTION 19 of the bill as follows (see link).
See also "Ed Spotlight: Ken King" COMING SOON!
Restorative Practices: A New Approach to Student Behavior
TASB (Texas Association of School Boards)
2019
TASB_restorative-practices-Nov2019
.pdf
Download PDF • 236KB
My Child Was a Victim of Restorative Justice. But It Doesn't Have to Be This Way.
By Julia Carlson
10/21/2019
'Restorative Discipline' is Taking Root in Texas Schools
Critics of the policy say restorative discipline divorces consequences from actions.
by Tera Collum
04/28/2021
TASB “Exclusionary” Discipline in Texas Schools: Legal Questions and Concerns
2019
TASB-exclusionary_discipline2019
.pdf
Download PDF • 329KB
Restorative Discipline Practices and Social Emotional Learning
TASB
2018 or 2019 (unclear)
TASB_restorative-Discipline-Practices-and-Social-Emotional-Learning-sm
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.22MB
TEA and the University of Texas at Austin Institute for Restorative Justice and Restorative Dialogue Partnership Statewide Roll Out
TEA Restorative Practices Website (see right side column)
2018
The report represents the Restorative Practice trainings in the 20 ESCs.
RD_Final_Report_8.31.18_UT
.pdf
Download PDF • 4.28MB
Screenshots from the report:
Texas HB 674
Texas Legislature Online
06/12/2017
HB 674 from 85(R)
Caption Text: Relating to the suspension of a student enrolled in a grade level below grade three from public school and to a positive behavior program for public schools.
Author: Johnson, Eric(D) | Giddings(D) | Anchia(D) | Collier(D) | Hinojosa, Gina(D)
Coauthor: Johnson, Jarvis | Moody | Reynolds | Rose | Thierry
Sponsor: Garcia
Cosponsor: Campbell | Seliger(R) | West
Here is the text of the bill...
A portion of the bill updated Section Sec. 37.0013 POSITIVE BEHAVIOR PROGRAM of the Texas Education code which can be found here and is displayed below:
This bill was signed by the Governor and became law on June 12, 2017.
Who from the Texas Panhandle was involved in this bill (cosponsor)? Kel Seliger
See also "Ed Spotlight: Kel Seliger".
Walsh Gallegos Events & News
March 28, 2017
by Jim Walsh
See also "Ed Spotlight: Walsh Gallegos".
See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".
Restorative Discipline Nurtures Positive Behaviors
Texas Lone Star Magazine
March 2017
See page 17 to find "Restorative Discipline Nurtures Positive Behaviors" by Jim Walsh
texaslonestarmarch2017-dl
.pdf
Download PDF • 7.19MB
See also "Ed Spotlight: Walsh Gallegos".
See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".
Restorative Discipline: Why You Should Look Into This
Walsh Gallegos
2016
by Jim Walsh
restorative_discipline_walsh-2016prez
.pdf
Download PDF • 5.57MB
See also "Ed Spotlight: Walsh Gallegos".
See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".
Texas HB 2684
Texas Legislature Online
06/20/2015
Caption Text: Relating to the creation of a model training curriculum and to the required training for certain school district peace officers and school resource officers.
Author: Giddings(D) | Walle(D)
Sponsor: Whitmire(D)
A portion of the bill updated Sec. 1701.262. TRAINING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS which can be found here and is displayed below:
This bill was signed into law by the Governor on 06/20/2015.
High Time for a Paradigm Shift
Texas School Business
March 2014
See page 6-7 for "High Time for a Paradigm Shift" by Jim Walsh
See also "Ed Spotlight: Walsh Gallegos".
See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".
Legislative Proponents of Restorative PracticeS in the education arena
Now let's look at what Texas bills have been proposed surrounding restorative justice, but did NOT become Texas law (the bills died). Please not they are mainly pushed by Democrats (Talarico, Mendez, Lucio, Wu)
Texas SB 2063
Texas Legislature Online
04/01/2021 (Died)
SB 2063 from 87R
Caption Text: Relating to public school discipline policies, practices, and procedures regarding student substance use and substance abuse prevention and intervention and mental health training for campus behavior coordinators.
Author: Menéndez(D)
Here is the text of the bill...
This bill did not become law.
Texas SB 1918
Texas Legislature Online
04/01/2021 (Died)
SB 1918 from 87(R)
Caption Text: Relating to the duties of school district peace officers and school resource officers.
Author: Lucio(D)