The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education is expected to vote Tuesday on updates to its Restorative Discipline Policy, aimed at strengthening a framework that focuses on accountability, safety, and student support without relying solely on punitive discipline.
The revised policy continues to prioritize restorative practices — an approach that encourages responsibility and community-building while addressing harm and helping students stay connected to school. Officials say the updates are based on feedback from students, families, and educators since the policy was first adopted in 2020.
Since then, the district has seen a steady drop in expulsions:
2021–22: 111 2022–23: 49 2023–24: 35 2024–25: 29According to state data, San Diego Unified’s suspension rate was 2.5% last year, lower than other large urban districts in California, including Long Beach Unified and Fresno Unified.
“The reduction of our suspension and expulsion rates are not indicative of a sacrifice to student safety and accountability,” said Farshad Talebi, the district’s Executive Director of Investigations, Compliance, and Accountability. “The changes we’ve made give administrators a wide spectrum of tools to address problematic behavior before punitive measures are necessary.”
What’s Changing?
Key updates to the policy include:
Clearer guidance for behavior and consequencesThe revised policy now defines five levels of behavior instead of four. Level 3 identifies suspendable offenses, and Level 4 covers situations where expulsion may be considered. More serious consequences for serious misconductIssues such as sexual misconduct (Title IX), harassment, bullying, and violent threats will carry more defined consequences. Easier-to-use resources for staffThe district created a two-page “at-a-glance” behavior matrix to help educators respond quickly and consistently. The document includes color-coded levels, icons, and links to relevant sections of California’s Education Code. Expanded tools for preventionSchools will also receive more support for proactive, relationship-focused strategies that aim to prevent issues before they escalate.Ebonee Weathers, Executive Director of Equity and Belonging, said the policy reflects the district’s ongoing effort to balance accountability with student-centered support.
“Restorative practices, while focusing on fostering community and repairing harm, do not mean a lack of consequences,” she said. “Instead, they aim to make consequences more intentional and focused on learning pro-social skills and accountability for behavior.”
The new version of the policy is set to take effect in the 2025–26 school year. Staff training will begin this summer.
For more on the district’s restorative justice work, visit:? sites.google.com/sandi.net/rjpdepartment/home
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