Abigail Spanberger signs bill forcing Virginia schools to add ‘Restorative Disciplinary practices’ before suspending students

Abigail Spanberger, the Virginia governor, signed into law a state bill that was passed by her Democratic colleagues. The bill prohibits public schools in Virginia from suspending or expelling a student before they have considered “restorative disciplinary practice” such as “peer mediation” and a “restorative circular.” Schools that do not use such practices are required to submit a report explaining the reasons why they chose “exclusionary discipline,” rather than “an empirically-based restorative discipline practice.”

The bill introduced by Democratic State Representative Delores McQuinn prohibits “any student in a public elementary or secondary school from being suspended, expelled or excluded from school attendance unless the school considers at least one restorative discipline practice that is evidence-based.” The bill lists a number of practices that fit the parameters, including peer mediation, peer jury, post-conflict program, preventative program, restorative circle and mentoring.

“Establishes and supports goals to increase connection to community, restore relationships, build empathy, and ensures all perspectives are taken into consideration”

“Addresses needs of those injured and promotes healing.”

— “Responds appropriately to students who violate expectations by balancing the balance between accountability and behavioral health needs. This will reduce disruptions, and keep students in school.”

— “Includes community members who reflect the cultural and demographic diversity in the school community and engages individuals affected by the incident”

— “Determines answers through a collaborative process that involves students, families and educators”

“Adopts solutions that are tailored to the cultures of students”

“Implements policies informed on the science of social, emotional and cognitive development of children”.

Exceptions include “threats of using a firearm or weapon of mass harm,” and “serious bodily injuries to another.” In other cases, when a school decides to suspend or exclude a student without first deploying “restorative discipline practices,” it must “document the rationale behind the decision, including any factors that support the decision not to use an evidence-based restorative discipline practice.”

The bill was passed by the Virginia Senate on a party-line basis in March. A Republican in the statehouse voted for after previously opposing the legislation. Spanberger signed this bill on Monday. It will go into effect next year.

This follows controversial attempts in liberal enclaves such as New York City or Portland Ore to replace “exclusionary punishment” (that is, discipline which removes students from the classroom they are used to) with “restorative injustice”. This move also contradicts Spanberger’s moderate image on the campaign trail when she ran for governor of a state which had elected a Republican four years prior.

According to a Manhattan Institute study, under left-wing Mayor Bill de Blasio New York City allocated millions in funding for “restorative” justice initiatives in schools. According to the report, chronic absenteeism in city schools increased from 26.5 percent to 34.8 percent by 2022-23. The number of incidents requiring a response from New York Police Department’s school safety division also increased from 1,200 to 4,120 in first quarter 2025. Manhattan Institute report states that a Jewish high-school teacher in Brooklyn filed a lawsuit against her district because students who made Nazi salutes or threats to her were sent to “meditation rooms” instead of being suspended.

“This measure reflects the decision to put the interests of the most disruptive student over those who suffer the consequences of these disruptions,” Manhattan Institute Fellow Rafael Mangual said in the Washington Free Beacon. Virginians can expect that this bill will undermine the ability of administrators and educators to maintain order on their campuses and in their classrooms. Like all measures rooted in misconceptions and flawed assessments of racial disparity, this one will ultimately prove counterproductive–especially for those students stuck in schools with the highest rates of misconduct.”

Spanberger’s Office did not respond to a comment request.

While the Virginia bill doesn’t specify exactly what “restorative discipline practices” such as a “restorative circles” should look like. A guide from the Center for Justice Innovation (a left-wing racial rights organization) on “restorative justice circle” may provide some clues.

The guide says that the circles are based on centuries-old indigenous practices and they’re designed to address conflict and harm by inviting all parties to listen to each other. “At its center, a restorative circle has a centerpiece. This is usually a cloth or piece of fabric that helps ground the conversation. Participants in the circle may place photos, cards that have important words or messages written, and other meaningful items on top of the centerpiece.

The guide continues: “A facilitator will then begin with an opening ceremony, such as a breathing exercise, song, poem, or meditation, before passing around an item that serves as a talking piece.” The talking piece is another important element of the circle. It allows the speaker to speak freely and without interruption, while inviting the others to listen.

The Freebeacon reported that such circles were implemented in Fayetteville (Ark.) as a result a Walmart-backed equity program. Fayetteville High School staff was instructed to deal with incidents such as physical molestation by using “restorative circle” where teachers and students sit together on the floor in order to “dispel hierarchy.”

The practices have caused pushback in Virginia. Teachers in Newport News, a city in Virginia’s southeast coast where a six-year old shot a first-grade teacher 2023, complained that “students assaulting classmates and staff are routinely allowed to remain in the classroom without many consequences,” according to the Associated Press . The AP cited teachers’ criticism in an example of “restorative-justice” practices, prompting “questions… whether a gentle approach to classroom disruption can be effective.”

Spanberger was one of hundreds of legislators who signed the bill “restorative disciplinary practice” during Virginia’s legislative session in 2026. These include four bipartisan bills detailing billions in business investments from companies such as Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca in Virginia. While Spanberger claimed credit for “attracting” these investments, they were actually secured her Republican predecessor Glenn Youngkin. The Free Beacon reports.