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SFUSD hears jail‑and‑school restorative‑justice programs; board weighs phased pilots and training needs
Summary
Presenters from the county RSVP program, 5 Keys Charter School and Raisin City described restorative‑justice practices that reduce violence and keep students in class; board members discussed metrics, staff training, pilots, and links to juvenile facilities.
The San Francisco Unified School District board convened a wide‑ranging discussion June 22 on restorative justice and alternatives to exclusionary discipline.
Presenters included Sunny Schwartz (RSVP/Resolve the Stop the Violence Project), Elise Graham (5 Keys Charter School) and Beatrice Ramirez (Raisin City School District). Speakers described restorative programs in detention and school settings that combine accountability, victim‑impact processes and community‑building practices. The RSVP program, developed in the late 1990s and adapted to jail settings, was cited as showing strong reductions in violent re‑arrest in an external evaluation by Dr. James Gilligan; practitioners said the methods emphasize offender accountability, victim voice and community involvement.
School leaders described practical classroom applications: respect agreements, peer mediators, mediation circles, and required coursework that teaches conflict‑resolution skills. 5 Keys described early indicators — fewer class removals and more reintegration of students — while Raisin City outlined a structured process that asks students three clarifying questions and develops agreements and follow‑up supports.
Board members asked about measurement, safety, juvenile‑hall coordination, and the scale of training needed for a district of SFUSD’s size. Presenters and sheriff’s representatives urged targeted pilots, staff‑culture work, and partnerships with probation and juvenile education programs.
The board expressed interest in phased implementation and in repurposing existing internal expertise and partner resources to minimize upfront costs; staff committed to return with options for pilot sites and training strategies.
