Translate to Spanish/Español, Mongolian or other language
PROJECT AIM
Work with schools, community members, students, and families to raise retention and graduation rates for students disadvantaged due to poverty and/or membership in an ethnic minority group.
Restorative Justice & Equity Group [RJE] is a grassroots, volunteer effort. Over the past eight years, we have gained a reputation as reliable, professionally competent, and thoughtful in how we provide services and work with other community groups and school staff to achieve our common goals around racial justice, the use of restorative practices, and student academic success. 

Compared to the general student population, students of color in Bend-La Pine Schools have lower scores on achievement tests, higher drop-out rates, and lower graduation rates. They are also likely to face more disciplinary issues, higher rates of suspension, and expulsion. These local statistics mirror national statistics. Factors that contribute to the achievement gap for students of color include lack of culturally sensitive, inclusive curriculum and instruction, lack of staff/teachers of color in local schools, and institutionalized racism that fosters lower expectations. Parents of students of color in the community have identified disparities in instruction and discipline that impact their children negatively. Bullying and racial harassment are poorly addressed and there is no clear school policy on how these types of incidents should be handled. Responses often re-victimize students by implying they were somehow at fault. In December 2017, a local high school student completed suicide after he was targeted with bullying and racial harassment. It was this incident that prompted RJE to take action to address the climate of institutionalized racism in our local schools. 

2020-2024 Regional Health Improvement Plan Priority Area

Address Poverty and Enhance
Self-Sufficiency

Future State Measure

Increase graduation rates among youth experiencing economic disadvantage.

Project Details

Priority Area and Organizations Involved

What We Want to Accomplish

 
Compared to the general student population, students of color in Bend-La Pine Schools have lower scores on achievement tests, higher drop-out rates, and lower graduation rates. They are also likely to face more disciplinary issues, higher rates of suspension, and expulsion. These local statistics mirror national statistics. Factors that contribute to the achievement gap for students of color include lack of culturally sensitive, inclusive curriculum and instruction, lack of staff/teachers of color in local schools, and institutionalized racism that fosters lower expectations. Parents of students of color in the community have identified disparities in instruction and discipline that impact their children negatively. Bullying and racial harassment are poorly addressed and there is no clear school policy yet on how these types of incidents should be handled.
 Working closely with Bend-La Pine School District administrators, teachers, and Equity Teams, we will track the following measures of success: 
1. Reduction in the use of school suspensions and expulsions.
2. Reduction in absentee and tardiness rates and an increase in the number of students of color on track for graduation.
3. Increases in student engagement in school for these students.
4. Increased teacher and parent acceptance of restorative practices based on pre/post surveys.
5. Increased student perceptions of trusting, dependable and consistent relationships with adults at their schools based on a pre/post survey of students.
 

Project Description

 
Working with local schools, we use restorative justice and equity practices to raise retention and graduation rates for students of color, including those experiencing poverty. Our primary activities include: implementing forums on racism for students of color in conjunction with the school district; training community members and educators in restorative practices; and supporting a cadre of trained community volunteers who work with school equity teams, students, and families.
Over the next two years, we will work with the Bend-La Pine School District to institutionalize restorative practices into school culture by supporting a Community Restorative Practices Cadre of trained volunteers to work with middle and high schools, and to carry out  Town Hall Symposiums on Racism in Fall 2021 and/or Spring 2022 (depending on Covid 19 restrictions) for 120 high school students of color facilitated by 25 adult leaders of color. We directly support high school-aged students of color in Bend-La Pine School District's five high schools. Our work also impacts the broader student body at all schools we serve. According to Oregon State school reports for the 2017-18 school year, Bend-La Pine’s enrollment was 89% white, 7% Latinx, 1% Asian, 2% two or more races, and less than 1% Black, Native American, and Other. The 2018-19 breakdown of minority student enrollment by high school is: Bend High 17%, Summit High 12%, La Pine High 9%, Mountain View High 17%, and Marshall High 22%.  The Principal of Bend-La Pine School District’s new Caldera High School (opening September 2021) has worked with RJE for the past two years and is committed to using restorative practices as the basis for the school’s culture. 
Our Town Halls give students of color a safe space to share their experiences with racism and build bridges of support to one another. Our curriculum gives students tools for combating racism and enhances their knowledge of their own and others’ diverse cultures—something currently not available at their schools. We have worked with high schools to establish multicultural/diversity clubs and served as mentors, speakers, and coaches for these clubs and their advisers. Our last Town Hall held February 2020 at Central Oregon Community College involved 116 students, 25 local leaders of color who served as restorative circle facilitators and break out group instructors, 15 adults who helped with student registration, serving of food, etc., and another 15 community members who attended as guests and provided positive support. The adults took part in a training session on racism while students were in breakout groups. 
When Covid 19 shut schools down in Spring 2020, we shifted focus to train 42 community members and educators in restorative practices and recruit them to a Community Cadre that we are working to launch in Spring 2021. These volunteers will be assigned to each high school and middle school to assist with implementing restorative practices in schools. Currently, 30 trained volunteers have signed up, completed the Bend-La Pine School District’s volunteer vetting process, and will work with the equity team at their assigned school. Volunteers will be supported by our new, part-time RJE Coordinator and they will receive a small monthly stipend.
 

Equity and This Project

RJE is led by and provides a vehicle where people of color and others have an opportunity to work together towards racial justice and equity in our community. 
Our Town Hall Symposiums on Racism give students of color a safe space to share their experiences with racism and build bridges of support to one another. Our curriculum gives students tools for combating racism and enhances their knowledge of their own and others’ diverse cultures—something currently not available at their schools. We have worked with high schools to establish multicultural/diversity clubs and served as mentors, speakers, and coaches for these clubs and their advisers. 
Our Community Restorative Practices Cadre of trained volunteers will be assigned to specific high schools and middle schools, work with the school equity teams, with school diversity clubs, and assist students in developing projects and initiatives to address and remove systemic inequities in their schools.
Students and leaders of color have been involved in planning and implementing each of our three Town Hall Symposiums on Racism, and students take the lead on determining what they want to accomplish upon return to their high schools. There is tremendous strength and solidarity in the local leaders of color, including COCC’s multicultural clubs, who have come together to support and mentor students through our Town Halls. These individuals share life experiences with students of color in a way that encourages and validates students. Following Town Halls, students return to their schools and step out as leaders initiating actions through multicultural clubs and equity teams to address needed change at their schools. Our Student Advisory Council has provided insightful advice and feedback, successfully shaping plans going forward including involving more white students as allies and more teen-friendly approaches to breakout sessions. 
 Equity
 
Objectives
From April 2021 through June 2023, RJE Community Cadre Members and two Teacher Advisors from each high school will re-establish, expand, and support student-led Multicultural/Diversity Clubs at eight Bend-La Pine high schools and at least two middle schools.
From April 2021 to June 2023, the Student Advisory Council and its’ RJE/Community Cadre advisors will meet monthly to ensure opportunities for student decision-making and empowerment (important experiences for those experiencing disengagement, alienation, and othering).
By Spring 2022, work with students to hold a Town Hall for 120 high school students of color and 30 white allies,  supported by COCC's Latinx, Afrocentric, and Native American Clubs, and facilitated by 25 local leaders of color. 
From April 2021 to June 2023, RJE Coordinator will track the number of Community Cadre members engaging to resolve conflicts, respond to issues around tardiness/absences, and mediate/facilitate disputes involving students.
Reporting Timeline
A year one report for this project will be available August 2022.
A final report for this project will be available August 2023.
Please check back under "What We're Learning" to see the outcomes of this project after the final report is submitted.