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Restorative Practices as a Social Justice Intervention in Urban Secondary Schools

Impacts and Challenges

  • Living reference work entry
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Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

Abstract

Restorative practices (RPs), based in the theory of restorative justice, are a growing school-based intervention, designed to create more equitable and more just schools. Utilizing the libertarian model of social justice (rights of self-determination, dignity, access, equity, and participation), this chapter explicitly describes the theory behind RPs, drawing links between the theory of restorative justice, the practice of RPs in schools to illustrate how RPs can achieve a more just vision of Education. This chapter then reviews prior evidence of the impact of RPs in schools on social justice outcomes and describes in more detail the results from one randomized control trial of RP in 33 schools across 8 US cities from 2014 to 2016. Across these studies, RP was shown to improve the school environment, reduce the use of exclusionary discipline, and promote engagement and participation. Finally, the chapter provides reflections on the study in the form of questions that need further exploration and keys for future implementation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Ashley Anne Grant

  2. School of Education, Center for Social Organization of Schools, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Douglas J. Mac Iver

Authors
  1. Ashley Anne Grant
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  2. Douglas J. Mac Iver
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Correspondence to Douglas J. Mac Iver .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Carol A. Mullen

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Grant, A.A., Mac Iver, D.J. (2021). Restorative Practices as a Social Justice Intervention in Urban Secondary Schools. In: Mullen, C.A. (eds) Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29553-0_113-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29553-0_113-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29553-0

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