Duval United for Change

Duval County Public Schools is requesting Category 2 STOP School Violence funding to address the significant school safety and discipline issues through a robust restorative practices initiative.

DCPS is a large, urban school district in northeast Florida. For the proposed Duval County STOP School Violence through Restorative Practices project, DCPS will utilize restorative practices to implement a more trauma-informed, healing-centered, and student-focused approach to improving school climate. DCPS previously piloted a restorative practices project at a handful of high schools

Duval County is desperately in need of innovative school climate reform programs. Names as the most dangerous school district in Florida, Duval County has a significant problem with school disruptions, dangerous events, and overall challenges to school climate. The district is particularly struggling with disruptive behaviors from Black and Latinx males students, which has resulted in a disproportionately high rate of suspensions among these students. Restorative practices are an innovative evidence-based approach to transforming school climate and addressing school-based violence because they offer schools an alternative to traditional disciplinary actions that center on punishment for misbehavior and breaking rules. A restorative culture has been shown to mitigate the negative effects of punitive discipline policies that exacerbate inequity, creating healthier school spaces Through this project, DCPS will improve safety in schools by engaging 675 school personnel and 130 school resource officers in a multi-year training platform to embrace and implement restorative practices at 20 high-need middle schools and alternative high schools.

The Duval County STOP School Violence through Restorative Practices project will transform school climate for 10,000 students at 20 different schools.