This week, Baltimore City Public Schools released its Blueprint for Success, a framework outlining how the district will create a comprehensive approach to ensure all students -– no matter where they live in Baltimore City — will have access to high-performing schools.
The blueprint focuses on three key areas: literacy, staff leadership and student wholeness. OSI-Baltimore has partnered with the district on the student wholeness component, specifically by helping integrate principals of restorative practices across the district, as described on page three of the full report:
Restorative practices build positive communities based on the premise that open, respectful communication helps reduce conflict. When conflict does occur, restorative practices encourage students to focus not on punishment, but on the harm caused and on ways to repair relationships. In partnership with Open Society Institute–Baltimore, principles of restorative practices will be adopted across the district and 15 schools will receive intensive training in the approach from the International Institute for Restorative Practices, the Community Conferencing Center, and other trained practitioners. In addition, schools will establish supervised safe spaces where students can receive social, emotional, and academic support and interventions.
Access OSI’s plan for restorative practices here. More information on the blueprint can be found here. Access the full report here.
