1. Middle School Alternative to Suspension Program
Larry Scott
ATS Specialist
School Psychologist

2. Staff Survey
43 staff completed the survey from FMS / 61 staff completed the survey from HMS (June & July 2018)
Most preferred, conflict resolution, conferencing and restitution
High support for utilizing community service as an alternative
Indirect supports: most preferred consultation on behaviorally at-risk students
Indirect supports: high support for, collaborating with community-based leaders, organizations, and professionals, as well as, working with parents

3. Restorative Practice Principles
Voluntary participation
Respect for all involved
Inclusion and equal voice of all people impacted
A focus on harms, needs, and causes
Consensus-based decision-making to repair harm and prevent future harm
Expanding the capacity of the community to create a just, fair, and meaningful response

4. Traditional Discipline Restorative Practices
Two Approaches
Traditional Discipline
A violation of rules & policies
Violations create guilt
Justice requires authorities to determine blame and punishment
Getting what one deserves
Restorative Practices
A violation of people & relationships
Violations create obligations
Justice includes the community, all involved
Personal responsibility

5. Restorative Practice Continuum
Affective Statements & Questions
Community Building Circles
Responsive Circles
Conflict Coaching
Mediation
Conferencing
Classroom
ATS

6. Conflict Coaching / Mediation
For severe conflicts between students (i.e. threat to physically fight and severe bullying) and for conflict between staff and student(s)
Teachers and other staff can refer students to the ATS Specialist through Infinite Campus for a Mediation
Conflict Coaching is done prior to conducting a Mediation
A written agreement from Mediation will be provided to all parties involved and communicated to relevant staff

7. Restorative Conferencing
A response to major discipline infractions, where harm in relationships has occurred
In lieu of a suspension; however, there may be some severe cases where a Restorative Conference might occur when a mandated suspension is completed
School administrator notifies parents of all students involved and gains consent to conduct the Restorative Conference
ATS Specialist will conduct pre-conferences and conducts Restorative Conference (might include parents)
Written agreement from Conference will be provided to all relevant parties

8. Restitution & Community Service
In lieu of a suspension, Restitution could be used for vandalism or property damage- students could participate in a clean-up or repair
Community Service could also be applied, in lieu of suspension, and might be part of an agreement from a Restorative Conference
To repair harm caused or to improve the physical environment of the school and/or school culture and climate
Parents must be informed and in agreement

9. Staff Consultation
The ATS Specialist will devote approximately two hours per week at each middle school for consultation on student behavior and classroom management
Referral for consultation via Google Doc referral
The goal is to improve individual or class-wide behavior

10. Restoring Staff
Approximately, once per week, the ATS Specialist will facilitate voluntary Staff Support Circles at each middle school, in the morning, prior to the school day
To support continuing growth and self-reflection among staff and to build relationships among staff
These circles are not for resolving or mediating personal conflict with others or for providing consultation on particular student cases and school management

11. Parents & Community
Communicate with and involve parents, when necessary
Could include participation in Restorative Conferences
Engaging parents might include conducting home visits
Build partnerships with community-based organizations and providers and include them to support the ATS Program, when necessary

12. Goals Reduce short-term and long-term suspensions
Eliminate disproportionality in suspensions across race and for students with disabilities
Improve safety, culture, and climate of school
Increase student participation and engagement
Support and foster positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and community
Embrace a cultural responsive school community

13. What the ATS Program is Not
An alternative to or in lieu of suspension, not for a student serving a suspension or removed from class for a period of time for behavioral reasons
Not to be used as a time-away or for the removal of students from an assigned setting
Does not provide recurring counseling and is not intended to address the chronic mental health and emotional needs of individual students
The ATS Specialist is not responsible for developing and implementing FBAs and BIPs
Does not eliminate the use of suspension, nor will it end the removal of students to time-away for severely disruptive behavior
Not a be all and end all for addressing our most severe cases which require more individualized responses

14. Schedule