Overview
As stated in the Board rule R277-100: Definitions for Utah State Board of Education Rules, and R277-609: Standards for LEA Discipline Policy, “Accountability Practices” means any evidence-based practice that increases academic outcomes, decreases behavior that disrupts the learning environment and holds students accountable for their actions by requiring them to take responsibility to repair harm and provide restitution when appropriate.
These practices may include:
- Adapting instruction to improve student engagement
- Creating behavior support plans
- Using restorative practices to build relationships, strengthen a sense of community, repair harm, and promote restitution (when appropriate)
In short, accountability practices help create a more supportive and effective learning environment by focusing on both academic success and personal responsibility. Going forward, USBE staff will use the term “accountability practices” to refer to strategies that meet this definition—including restorative practices.
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Laws and Policies
Utah Code Section 53G-8-211: Responses to school-based behavior, prohibits referrals to law enforcement or juvenile court for truancy and for class C misdemeanors, infractions, status offenses, and offenses committed on school grounds. It allows referrals for these offenses to alternative school-based interventions including mobile crisis outreach teams, receiving centers operated by Utah Division of Juvenile Justice Services, youth courts, and other restorative justice programs.
“Accountability Practices” is as defined in Administrative Rule 277-100 Definitions for Utah State Board of Education Rules and 277-609 Standards for LEA Discipline Policy.
Resources
Want to Learn More or Request Training?
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can submit a request through the Training Request Portal to connect with the USBE Prevention Team about Accountability practices.
Restorative Practices
Restorative practices are approaches to proactively build positive school culture and relationships while holding students accountable for disruptive behaviors and providing students an opportunity to repair harm and restore positive relationships. Restorative practitioners have a mindset of spending 80% of the time being proactive, using affective statements, affective questions, and small impromptu conversations with students. Twenty percent of the time is spent on responding to student's behaviors using circles and formal conferences, which take time and planning. Engaging in restorative practices results in fewer disruptive behaviors, suspensions, and expulsions which allows more time for educators and students to focus on in-school learning.
Restorative practices:
- Builds healthy relationships between educators and students
- Reduces and prevents harmful behavior; improves behavior
- Repairs harm and restore positive relationships
- Resolves conflict and holds individuals/groups accountable
- Addresses and discusses the needs of the school community
Restorative practices provide an option for local educational agencies to meet the requirements as specified under Utah Code Section 53G-8-211.
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