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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.



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:





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.





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 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?


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!





TASB (Texas Association of School Boards)

2019





By Julia Carlson

10/21/2019






Critics of the policy say restorative discipline divorces consequences from actions.

by Tera Collum

04/28/2021







2019




TASB

2018 or 2019 (unclear)







TEA Restorative Practices Website (see right side column)

2018

The report represents the Restorative Practice trainings in the 20 ESCs.

Screenshots from the report:








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





March 28, 2017

by Jim Walsh

See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".





Texas Lone Star Magazine

March 2017

See page 17 to find "Restorative Discipline Nurtures Positive Behaviors" by Jim Walsh


See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".





Walsh Gallegos

2016

by Jim Walsh



See also "Ed Spotlight: Jim Walsh".





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.




Texas School Business

March 2014

See page 6-7 for "High Time for a Paradigm Shift" by Jim Walsh


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 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)

This bill did not become law.





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)


This bill did not become law.




Texas Legislature Online

03/24/2021 (Died)


SB 1596 in 87R

Caption Text: Relating to the membership of a school district's threat assessment and safe and supportive school team and committee and the school safety allotment under the public school finance system.

Author: Lucio(D)

This bill did not become law.




Texas Legislature Online

03/18.2021 (Died)


SB 1074 in 87R

Caption Text: Relating to positive behavior plans of school districts, development of positive behavior best practices by the Texas Education Agency, and reporting of disproportionate discretionary disciplinary action by school districts.

Author: Lucio(D)

This bill did not become law.




Texas Legislature Online

03/15/2021 (Died)


HB 2010 in 87R

Caption Text: Relating to the membership of a school district's threat assessment and safe and supportive school team and committee and the school safety allotment under the public school finance system.

Author: Talarico (D)

This bill did not become law.




Texas Legislature Online

03/04/2021 (Died)


Caption Text: Relating to alternative settings for behavior management in public schools, including the development of restorative discipline practices as part of a school district's discipline and placement of a student in a disciplinary alternative education program.

Author: Wu(D)










This bill did not become law.





Texas Legislature Online

02/25/2022 (Died)


HB 62 in 87R

Caption Text: Relating to the use of disciplinary alternatives to suspension by a school district and the creation of the restorative justice coordinating council.

Author: Talarico(D)



















This bill did not become law.





Texas Legislature Online

04/16/2019 (Died)


HB 2991 in 86R

Caption Text: Relating to the use of disciplinary alternatives to suspension by a school district and the creation of the restorative justice coordinating council.

Author: Talarico(D) | Bernal





Texas Legislature Online

05/19/2019 (Died)


HB 3219 from 86(R)

Caption Text: Relating to the discipline and behavior management of a public school student.

Author: Allison(R)

This bill did not become law.






* All information in the article is for parents to understand practices, philosophies, resources (and their effects), curriculum, and testing for their children and falls under Fair Use laws.

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