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Perkiomen Valley to expand Youth Aid Panel restorative program to middle schools; board to consider handbook changes in June
Summary
Administrators proposed expanding a county-approved Youth Aid Panel diversion program into middle schools so eligible incidents are handled by trained volunteer panels and supports rather than immediate police contact; staff asked the board to approve handbook changes and program expansion in June.
The district presented a plan to expand the Youth Aid Panel (YAP), a restorative diversion program run with Montgomery County approval, from Perkiomen Valley High School into the middle schools beginning with the 2026—27 school year. The program, already used at the high school, refers qualifying incidents to a trained volunteer panel that meets with students and families; panels recommend educational, restorative or restitution outcomes and provide timelines. If students do not complete panel agreements, cases revert to standard disciplinary or police processes.
Administration said the county istrict attorney's office (represented in trainings by ADA Angela Bell) has supported school-based YAP panels and that panels have access to mental-health and substance-use resources through county partners. Typical YAP referrals include certain nonviolent offenses and discretionary referrals for some second offenses; district staff said panels are intended to avoid criminalization and keep eligible incidents managed within restorative frameworks.
Administrators asked the committee to send handbook changes and the YAP expansion to the June board action meeting. Mr. Green (a middle-school principal) said incidents eligible for YAP at the middle level have occurred but only occasionally, and that school staff value the opportunity to offer restorative alternatives.
Ending: The committee agreed to place the handbook changes and YAP expansion on the June action agenda; staff said they will coordinate training and protocols with school police and county partners prior to implementation.
