R.I.S.E. to Reduce School Violence

Spokane Public Schools will build the capacity of its Department of Family and Community Engagement to implement an in-school diversion program that will offer accountability to students at risk of suspension or arrest to prevent school violence. Restorative Interventions for Suspensions and Expulsions (RISE) will provide an in-school diversion option at the district’s five traditional high schools and four alternative programs as a Tier II targeted approach. This project plans to develop and embed an alternative option for schools and community partners to respond effectively to increasing violence seen in schools while also disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline for behavior that does not warrant out-of-school exclusion or criminal action. This project’s second goal is to enhance schools’ capacity to address youth violence and exposure to violence through community partnerships. To increase the capacity and strengthen relationships between key stakeholders, a district diversion liaison will be hired to be a connection between schools and community partners. This person will work with key stakeholders to address the immediate impact of youth violence and exposure to violence in the community through developing and implementing appropriate remediation plans in partnership with the juvenile justice system.