A New Taos Restorative Justice Program Fosters a More Positive Learning Environment

In the past three years, suspensions as a result of conflicts between Taos Charter School students have more than tripled. This traditional disciplinary approach focuses on guilt and punishment and can be isolating and counterproductive for students who may require additional help. Staff at the school recognized the need for a different approach and applied for state funding to train several teachers in restorative justice concepts. They got it. The problem is that as a half-time employee the school’s social worker doesn’t have the bandwidth to launch the program. So the school reached out to LOR for help. LOR’s support will help make the position full-time, giving the social worker the time to launch a restorative justice program that focuses on restorative conversations, repairing relationships, celebrating diversity, teaching tolerance, and improving equity.