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BPS expands restorative-practices teams and substance-counseling access as vaping and social-media issues rise
Summary
During a budget hearing, BPS leaders described a districtwide push to add restorative-practices staff, place substance counselors in regional networks and use school-based approaches to address vaping and social-media harms. Officials said the strategy emphasizes support over punishment.
Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the district has increased investments in restorative practices, school-based substance counseling and social-emotional learning to address student mental health, vaping and the classroom effects of cell-phone use.
Why it matters: Mental-health supports and discipline approaches shape school climate, student safety and long-term academic outcomes. The district described prevention-focused, restorative models and clinical partnerships as central to its FY26 approach.
BPS said it has…
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