Sep 2023
Becker Friedman Institute Working Paper- From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice
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Read the Education Lab working paper that delves into the implementation of restorative practices within Chicago Public Schools and outlines the study’s findings.
School districts historically approached conflict-resolution from a zero-sum perspective: suspend students seen as disruptive and potentially harm them, or avoid suspensions and harm their classmates. Restorative practices (RP) – focused on reparation and shared ownership of disciplinary justice – are designed to avoid this trade-off by addressing undesirable behavior without imparting harm. This study examines Chicago Public Schools’ adoption of RP. We identify decreased suspensions, improved school climate, and find no evidence of increased classroom disruption. We estimate a 19% decrease in arrests, including for violent offenses, with reduced arrests outside of school, providing evidence that RP substantively changed behavior.
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![](https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-07-at-1.54.43-PM-234x300.png)
From Retributive to Restorative: An Alternative Approach to Justice
This research brief details the findings from the Education Lab’s study of the effect of restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools.
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NYC expands restorative justice programs: ‘This is for them to come feel safe’
The Gothamist’s Samantha Max cites Education Lab research that found using restorative practices to address student behavior can reduce arrests and suspensions.
![Gothamist logo](https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/gothamist_og-1024x555.png)
Implementation, and Impact of High-Dosage Tutoring Programs
Today the national nonprofit Accelerate announced a new initiative that will bring together top education researchers from across the U.S. to develop rigorous research on the impact, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of various high-dosage tutoring programs. The Education Lab is a member of Accelerate’s inaugural Research Learning Community as part of a commitment to helping policymakers and school districts access the high-quality and transparent evidence they need to make informed decisions for their students.
![](https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/Accelerate-Logo-2-2.png)
What aspects of teaching should remain human?
Chris Berdik, for The Hechinger Report, highlights Saga Education’s partnership with the Education Lab to scale high-dosage tutoring through the Personalized Learning Initiative, where AI is playing a growing role in the delivery of tutoring.
![](https://educationlab.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/HechingerReportLogo.png)