Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spent a portion of Tuesday learning more about Crestwood School District’s approach to implementing restorative practices within the district. The visit was part of Nessel’s ongoing push for equity in the classroom.
Last year, Nessel announced her Restorative Practices Initiative in order to address racial disparities in school discipline. Since then, districts around the state have shared ways they are revamping strategies to keep kids in the classroom.
At Riverside Middle School, Nessel learned from Crestwood Superintendent Dr. Youssef Mosallam about the training district employees go through to utilize restorative practices effectively, which was previously featured by The Arab American News.
“I appreciate Dr. Mosallam’s hospitality today and applaud the innovative ways the district is prioritizing the social and emotional wellness of its students,” Nessel said. “Educators across the state are implementing restorative practices, and it’s important we recognize the success of those efforts. I look forward to visiting more schools that are focused on this approach to education.”
As part of this ongoing effort, in May, Nessel led a coalition of 23 attorneys general, which urged the Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to reissue a guidance package previously withdrawn in 2018. The letter also asked that the reissued guidance be expanded to address the disparate use of discipline against students based on their sex, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
In June, DOE issued a Request for Information seeking information to help DOE determine what policy guidance or related resources it should issue to assist schools in this endeavor. Nessel led a second coalition of attorneys general in responding to DOE’s request in July. The matter remains under review, according to DOE’s website.
Any school official that has a success story can complete the form available through the Restorative Practices Initiative webpage at www.michigan.gov/ag under “Initiatives.”
