Examining the Efficacy of Circles on School Safety and Student Outcomes in Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts, 2017-2020

There is increasing evidence that promoting social-emotional learning and positive teacher-student relationships can prevent school violence. Many schools are turning to restorative practices to promote safe schools. When engaging in restorative practices, the emphasize focuses on learning and growth. When harm has occurred, restorative practices emphasize communication and accountability. Restorative practices in schools have been associated with decreased bullying and school violence, improvements in positive school climate and decreased use of suspensions. The current study presents implementation and impact findings of a cluster randomized control trial examining a school-wide restorative practices model called Circle Forward.