Restorative Practices Training for Educators
Professional development can be a tough sell for teachers. It’s not just that their plates are overflowing. They’re tired of “sit & gets” that aren’t useful. And they’re tired of initiatives that start and stop.
We feel really fortunate to say that our Restorative Practices Training is received very differently. Educators consistently share how much they loved building real connections with their colleagues during our session. They find both the theory and the tools incredibly applicable and useful. They often come back on Day 2 of training talking about how they used the strategies with their partners or children the night before.
The experience is good, the tools are good, and the session is good. It’s actually fulfilling.
In this post, we’ll break down what Restorative Practices training is all about, why it matters for teachers, and how to access in-person and online options.
What Does Restorative Practices or Restorative Justice Training Entail?
Restorative Practices Training for Educators equips teachers, staff, and administrators with tools to build stronger relationships, foster community, develop better communication strategies, and address conflict constructively.
Participants first learn, discuss, and interact with the theories underpinning Restorative Practices, like Affect Psychology, Fair Process Decision-Making, and the Engagement Window.
They then learn and practice using Restorative Practice tools such as proactive circles, affective statements and questions, and curbside conversations. Our training is also rooted in actionable frameworks to make implementation easy.
Staff will learn the 5 Steps of Restorative Practices—Calm Self, Calm Other, Reflect, Repair, and Plan—which provide a clear roadmap for integrating these strategies into daily interactions.
Restorative Practices Training is not just for student-teacher relationships; it extends to adult-to-adult dynamics within the school. Helping staff navigate conflicts and foster collaboration, creates a school culture where everyone feels valued and connected.
Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice
Oftentimes, schools reach out to us to just learn about responsive strategies. Many believe that Restorative Practices in school are a replacement for traditional disciplinary responses. However, that’s not entirely accurate. Restorative Practices is an overarching framework focused on building relationships and community, with Restorative Justice being one part of that framework—a specific process used to address harm after it has occurred. The real power of Restorative Practices lies in its proactive strategies, which make up about 80% of the work. The remaining 20% involves repairing harm through processes like Restorative Justice Conferencing. Schools don’t need to throw out traditional responses entirely, but integrating restorative approaches creates a more balanced system where accountability and empathy work hand in hand.
This preventative approach helps create a nurturing environment that potentially deters conflicts from arising in the first place.
Why Are Restorative Practices Training Important?
Both administrators and teachers play a vital role in creating the culture of a school, shaping behavior, and fostering accountability. Beyond addressing student challenges, adults’ actions, communication styles, and the systems they create can either contribute to or alleviate conflicts. Restorative Practices Training provides tools to build strong relationships and systems, as well as tools to reflect on their practices and create a more supportive and connected school environment.
Addressing Behavioral Challenges
With rising behavioral health concerns among students, traditional disciplinary measures often fail to address root causes. Restorative Practices training equips educators and administrators to dig deeper, helping students reflect, repair, and learn from their actions. It also helps staff examine how things like their tone, body language or timing can either escalate or de-escalate matters.Building Social Capital
Trust and connection are essential at every level of a school. Teachers build strong classroom relationships using strategies like community-building circles, while administrators foster trust among staff and families by using the same Restorative tools. Restorative Practices training emphasizes proactive steps to create environments where collaboration and respect thrive, preventing conflicts before they begin.Supporting Staff Well-Being
Teacher and administrator burnout is a significant challenge in schools today. Restorative Practices training isn’t just for students—it’s about equipping adults with tools to manage their own stress, regulate emotions, use effective communication strategies, and address conflict early and constructively. Administrators can set the tone by modeling restorative approaches and creating systems for staff to feel valued and heard.Operationalizing and Integrating Restorative Practices
When teachers and administrators work together to integrate specific Restorative Practice strategies into existing procedures, the results are transformative. Schools often see improvements in climate, discipline, and student engagement. By embedding these practices into daily routines and systems, you can create a sustainable, long-term culture shift that supports everyone in the community.
What Are the Benefits of Restorative Practices Training in Schools?
You’ve seen the reviews of our training and what staff have had to say. This training opens people up, gets people communicating, and helps build staff relationships. It also gives them what they need to launch: strategies they can connect to and make their own, time to practice and collaborate with their colleagues, and resources to use to make the lift easier. Ultimately, the training is a great setup to gain buy-in and traction.
But ultimately you may want to understand: what are the benefits or outcomes of Restorative Practices or Restorative Justice in schools? In our experience, Restorative Practices made a profound difference in our discipline data- with a significant decrease in infractions, suspensions, and out-of-school disciplinary placements. We also saw improved staff engagement, student sense of belonging, and student perception of student-teacher relationships.
That said, we prioritize independent research to fully understand the impact of robust Restorative Practices implementation. Here are key findings from three well-regarded studies:
The University of Chicago Education Lab Study (Chicago Public Schools)
This ongoing study, which began in 2018, examines the implementation of Restorative Practices in Chicago Public Schools.
18% reduction in out-of-school suspensions.
35% reduction in student arrests in school and a 15% reduction in arrests outside of school.
Students reported improved perceptions of school climate, including:
Better classroom behavior from peers
Greater feelings of belonging
Enhanced perceptions of safety
What makes these findings particularly compelling is that the positive outcomes were not due to mechanical changes, such as updates to the discipline policy or code of conduct. Instead, the robust application of Restorative Practices was the key driver of success. Additionally, reductions in suspensions did not lead to increases in in-school suspensions, classroom disruptions, or declines in academic performance.
The RAND Corporation Study (Pittsburgh Public Schools)
This study analyzed the implementation of RP in 44 schools over two years. Key findings include:
A 36% reduction in suspension days.
A significant decrease in suspension disparities for African American students and those from low-income families.
Teachers reported better perceptions of teaching and learning conditions, including:
Improved classroom conduct management.
Stronger relationships between staff and students.
Results for America Study (Oakland Unified School District)
This analysis highlighted the long-term impact of Restorative Justice (RJ) implementation in Oakland schools:
Student suspensions dropped by approximately 20 percentage points within three years. Overall, between the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 school years, the percentage of students suspended district-wide declined from 4.2% to 2.9%, marking a nearly 31% reduction.
88% of teachers reported that Restorative Practices were very or somewhat helpful in managing challenging student behaviors in the classroom. Additionally, over 60% of staff believed that these practices contributed to a reduction in suspensions at their schools.
Graduation rates increased, particularly for African American students.
The reduction in violence and bullying incidents was attributed to a more inclusive and supportive school environment.
Successful implementation was linked to strong leadership support, dedicated RJ staff at schools, and ongoing training.
How to Find Restorative Practices Training Near Me?
In our experience, RP training is THE most important first step in gaining interest and buy-in from your community. If the trainer isn’t engaging or doesn’t have experience working and applying RP in schools, you risk losing buy-in. If you’re beginning your search by googling “Restorative Practices training near me,” we recommend you do the following when you contact an organization:
Ask them if their trainer has experience applying RP in a school setting.
CSC’s trainers have excellent reviews and a rich experience applying RP to their work in schools. Their stories will resonate with your staff, and their suggestions and samples of applying the work will be relatable and immediately applicable.
We invite you to connect with us and tell us what you’re looking for. Are you searching for a Restorative Practices trainer with experience training elementary, middle, or high school teachers? A Restorative Practices trainer who has spearheaded Restorative Justice conferencing? Someone who has woven Restorative Practices into their PBIS framework? We’ve got you covered.
Bring the Training to You with a Collaborative School Culture
Collaborative School Culture is able to tailor our training to suit your needs, as well as your time constraints. Though we recommend that your foundational Restorative Practices training or your Restorative Justice Conferencing training be in-person, as this yields the best engagement and excitement from participants, we understand that this isn’t always possible. We provide virtual or online Restorative Practices training and coaching for situations in which in-person just isn’t feasible.
Training For Staff: CSC provides the foundational Restorative Practices for Educators training as well as shorter workshops that are tailored to your needs and schedule. We provide a myriad of concise courses and sessions to help a leadership or grade team dive deeper into a Restorative Practice strategy to workshop a challenge or practice applications for the situation with a colleague, student, class, or parent. It’s one thing to learn about the restorative questions, but a completely different thing to use them naturally, in your own words, during a conflict with a colleague. These sessions help people practice the application to situations that make them anxious or frustrated so that when the time comes, they’re calm and ready.
Training For Families & The Community: We also offer interactive virtual family and community Restorative Practices training, which is a big hit. When families are learning the practices along with staff, they can become a part of helping the school integrate Restorative Practices; this helps the entire community.
Training for Students: CSC also has an array of lessons for students k-12 to learn the same foundational RP concepts and tools that staff have learned, helping to get everyone using the same language and practices.
How Can Educators Access Free Restorative Practices or Restorative Justice Training?
There are plenty of free resources online, including videos that explain the concepts and tools of Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice. While these can be a helpful introduction or refresher, they’re not enough to lead to a change in practice. Even a cursory look at implementation science or adult learning confirms this.
This is why live Restorative Practice training—whether in-person or virtual—matters so much. It’s not just about understanding the tools; it’s about practicing them in a safe, guided environment where educators can ask questions, get feedback, and connect with their peers. Live training builds excitement and confidence and ensures that these strategies stick. If you’re serious about implementing Restorative Practices, investing in high-quality training is the first step toward real impact.
How to Prepare for Restorative Practices Training in 2025
Are you considering Restorative Practices or Restorative Justice training for teachers in 2025? Here’s what to keep in mind to make the process smooth and impactful:
Start with a Plan
If Restorative Practices aren’t yet part of your strategic plan, now’s the time to start. Begin by training a smaller group of key stakeholders—district and school leaders, teachers from various grade levels, support staff, counselors, and even parent volunteers. This group will gain a solid understanding of Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice, equipping them to guide the planning and adoption process. Once you’re ready to roll out Restorative Practices more broadly, involve all stakeholders and communicate your implementation timeline clearly.
Plan for Foundational Training
For a successful start, schedule the foundational Restorative Practices training for teachers and staff early—ideally in a two-day session before the school year begins. Consecutive days work best to keep the momentum and engagement high. Take into account what else may be on teachers’ plates during this time to ensure they can fully participate. Regular communication about the training schedule and expectations will help everyone prepare and stay on track.
Book Early to Secure Your Training Dates
Restorative Practices trainers are in high demand, especially since many school districts share the same professional development days. Booking early for 2025 ensures you’ll secure your preferred dates. Don’t forget there may also be materials to order and logistics to coordinate, so giving yourself a head start is crucial.
Prepare for What Comes After Training
Training is just the beginning. Planning for how Restorative Practices will be embedded into your school’s systems, such as PBIS frameworks or behavior management protocols, is essential. Clear communication about the next steps after the training will set the stage for a smooth transition and sustained success.
Ready to bring Restorative Practices training to your district? Let us help you design a plan that meets your needs and sets you up for success in 2025!