Dan Proft spoke with behavioral analyst and educational consultant Jennifer Weber about the growing debate over restorative justice policies in America’s public schools. The conversation focused on Weber’s recent report for the Manhattan Institute, which examined the consequences of New York City’s decade-long investment in restorative justice and called into question its effectiveness.
According to Weber, New York City has spent nearly $100 million on restorative justice programs over the last ten years, yet incidents of violence and disruptions in schools have not decreased. In fact, she said, key indicators—such as police interventions and absenteeism—have worsened. “By removing accountability,” Weber explained, “the system has created more chaos in classrooms.”
One practice Weber criticized was the use of so-called “meditation rooms” in lieu of suspensions or expulsions. These rooms, intended as spaces for reflection, have become ineffective holding areas that remove misbehaving students from class without addressing the root problem. She argued that students quickly learn there are no meaningful consequences for even serious offenses.
Proft and Weber discussed examples from New York schools, including reports of students threatening and even attempting to stab teachers. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, police were called to schools over 4,000 times—a number Weber says reflects a failure to maintain safe environments for both educators and students.
The conversation also touched on broader national trends. Weber pointed out that several states, including Texas, Arkansas, and Washington, are now rolling back restorative justice policies and empowering teachers to enforce stricter discipline standards. She credited a recent executive order from President Trump directing schools to prioritize behavior-based discipline over identity-based considerations as a significant step toward reform.
Critics of restorative justice argue that these programs often prioritize optics and racial equity statistics over safety and order. Proft highlighted the case of Broward County, Florida, where similar policies came under scrutiny after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He noted that the shooter had a long documented history of violent threats and behavior, yet was never meaningfully disciplined—a pattern that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Weber echoed that concern, stating that holding all students to consistent behavioral standards is the most equitable approach. She argued that schools should invest in training teachers and administrators on how to respond quickly and appropriately to different levels of misbehavior. “If you have to wait for outside intervention,” she said, “it’s often too late.”
While acknowledging that schools can’t control what happens at home, Weber emphasized the need for clear boundaries and consequences within the school environment. “There’s been a cultural shift,” she added, “but at minimum, schools must reinforce the idea that actions have consequences.”
As the debate continues, her research raises pressing questions about the cost and effectiveness of restorative justice programs, and whether a return to more traditional discipline methods might ultimately serve students and educators better.