Representative Sandra Hollins proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

2     
IN UTAH'S EDUCATION SYSTEM

3     
2018 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Sandra Hollins

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This resolution of the House of Representatives encourages the State Board of
10     Education and Utah's school districts to implement school-wide restorative justice
11     practices in the state's public primary and secondary schools.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This resolution:
14          ▸     encourages the State Board of Education and Utah's school districts to implement
15     restorative justice priorities in Utah's public primary and secondary schools as a way
16     to help Utah's students stay in school and deal with their challenges in a healthier
17     and more constructive way.
18     Special Clauses:
19          None
20     

21     Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
22          WHEREAS, the pressure to do well in school and to comply with the expectations of
23     parents and teachers can create great challenges and increased stress in a student's life;
24          WHEREAS, the necessity and challenge of forging meaningful relationships can add to
25     the difficulties students face;

26          WHEREAS, a student's struggles can be further aggravated by the death of a parent, a
27     divorce, abuse, or other traumatic circumstances and can sometimes lead to problematic
28     behavior in school;
29          WHEREAS, studies show that suspension and expulsion, traditional methods of
30     addressing disciplinary issues in schools, do not make schools safer and result in lower
31     graduation rates and increased rates of involvement in the juvenile justice system, contributing
32     to the school to prison pipeline;
33          WHEREAS, restorative justice is a values-based approach to community building,
34     problem solving, and conflict resolution that is used in schools to build and restore
35     relationships, create opportunities for dialogue, repair harm and transform conflict, and create
36     just and equitable learning environments;
37          WHEREAS, restorative justice enhances school communities by incorporating values
38     of respect, dignity, mutual concern, collaboration, and accountability into the school culture;
39          WHEREAS, restorative justice encourages students to engage in collaborative problem
40     solving, which empowers students and gives them tools to effectively communicate beyond the
41     school setting;
42          WHEREAS, restorative justice, in a school setting, shifts the emphasis from managing
43     behavior to focusing on building, nurturing, and repairing relationships, while retaining the
44     ability to hold students accountable;
45          WHEREAS, restorative justice focuses on the impact of students' behavior on other
46     members of the school community, rather than only on rule breaking, and allows those
47     impacted to find ways to repair the harm and restore damaged relationships, rather than
48     imposing punishment;
49          WHEREAS, studies have shown that restorative justice practices can lead to reductions
50     in problem behavior, improvements in school climate, and increases in student achievement,
51     attendance, and graduation rates; and
52          WHEREAS, there is a continuum of proactive to responsive restorative practices,
53     ranging from community-building circles to restorative conferencing, which are accessible to
54     educators to successfully implement school-wide restorative justice practices:
55          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
56     state of Utah encourages the State Board of Education and Utah's school districts to implement

57     school-wide restorative justice initiative practices in Utah's public primary and secondary
58     schools.
59          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to each of Utah's
60     school districts and to the State Board of Education.