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SFPS describes restorative justice approach that aims to keep students in school
Summary
Santa Fe Public Schools explained its restorative justice program as a structured alternative to suspension, reporting over 200 high‑school self referrals last year and using circles and small‑group interventions across K–12.
Sue O'Brien described restorative justice as an alternative to traditional suspension-focused discipline that emphasizes repairing harm and teaching conflict-resolution skills.
"Restorative justice in the Santa Fe Public Schools is really an alternative approach to what we would call traditional discipline…our focus really is about repairing the harm, helping the students to learn how to do that," O'Brien said. She said the approach uses classroom circles at the elementary level and small-group or pair work at middle and high schools.
O'Brien noted the program served K–12 and that at the high-school level more than 200 students self-referred for restorative-justice work last year. She said the process is staff-guided and requires students to state what they learned and what they will do differently as part of the resolution.
O'Brien framed restorative justice as a strategy to keep students engaged in learning while addressing conflict and building transferable skills that benefit families and classroom communities.
