The Power of Repair: Shifting from Punitive to Restorative in Schools

Audrey Lappe
12 hours ago
2 min read

By Audrey Lappe

Teacher and student smile while working together with colorful blocks and activities

Across the country, schools are making a powerful shift from punitive discipline to restorative practices and the results are transformative.

Research shows that schools using restorative approaches see fewer behavioral issues, stronger relationships, and improved school climate. But the true power of this shift lies in what students are learning: how to communicate, resolve conflicts, build empathy, and take ownership of their actions.

This change isn’t about lowering expectations or ignoring behavior. It’s about teaching the skills students need to thrive both in and out of school.

Students sit around in a circle as a group.

What Is a Restorative School Culture?

A restorative school culture prioritizes:

Relationships First – Building trust and connection between staff and students
Accountability with Support – Encouraging students to take responsibility in a respectful, safe environment
Skill-Building – Teaching tools for emotional regulation, problem-solving, and empathy
Instead of asking, “How should we punish this student?” restorative approaches ask, “What harm was caused—and how can we help repair it?”

Punitive Approach	Restorative Practices Approach
School rules are violated. Justice focuses on guilt Accountability is defined as punishment. Only the “offender” is addressed Little chance to reflect or make amends.	People and relationships are harmed. Justice identifies needs and responsibilities. Accountability is defined as understanding the effects of the offense and repairing any harm. All parties involved have a voice. Students who may have caused harm are held responsible, repair harm, and work toward a positive outcome.

Why Restorative Practices Work

When schools move away from punitive systems, they gain much more than improved behavior. They foster:

Stronger teacher-student relationships
Decreased exclusionary discipline
Increased student accountability and voice
Strong sense of community
Improved behavior and academic outcomes

Small Steps to Get Started

You don’t need to launch a full program to begin using restorative practices. Start small:

Begin the day with a community circle – Create space for students to connect, share, and build trust.
Use restorative questions after a behavior incident – Guide students to reflect and take ownership: What happened? What were you thinking at the time? Who was affected, and how? What do you need to do to make things right?
Hold restorative circles or conference – Bring together students involved in a conflict to talk it through, listen, and heal.

The Bottom Line

By shifting the question from “What’s the punishment?” to “What skill is missing?”, we move beyond behavior management and toward human development. This is how we build stronger, more connected schools and help students become compassionate, capable people ready for the world ahead.

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