Restorative Discipline Practices (RDP) in Texas began in the Fall of 2015. The International Institute of Restorative Practices defines restorative practices as, “social science that studies how to build social capital and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision-making.” Restorative practices focus on repairing social harm by involving the community.
Restorative discipline goes beyond punishing offenders for unwanted behavior, it is a mediation or reconciliation strategy to address root causes of behavior. Traditional modes of discipline focus on punishing unwanted behavior of offenders. Restorative discipline flips that script, focusing on repairing the harm done to people.