OCA-DPCS-042 Restorative Justice Implementation Training and Coaching Services for Educators

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The mission of the New York State Unified Court System (UCS) is to deliver equal justice under the law and to achieve the just, fair and timely resolution of all matters that come before our courts. In the service of our mission, the UCS is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, and to ensuring that all who enter or serve in our courts are treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism. We affirm our responsibility to promote a court system free from any and all forms of bias and discrimination and to promote a judiciary and workforce that reflect the rich diversity of New York State. More information about the UCS is available at https://www.nycourts.gov .

The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) Division of Professional and Court Services is soliciting proposals on behalf of the Division of Alternative Dispute Resolution (DADR) via this Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purpose of providing leadership training for implementing restorative justice (RJ) practices and implementation coaching services for educators and other professionals, including school psychologists, school counselors, social workers, members of boards of education, superintendents and assistant superintendents, and RJ coordinators, in K-12 schools.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (SED MOU # 023-012) between UCS and the New York State Education Department (the “Grantor” or NYSED), UCS has received Title IV funds awarded by the United States Department of Education for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: Stronger Connections Grant Program (the “Grant Award”) to implement the Team Leadership Training for Implementing RJ Practices initiative (the “Project”).

The goal of the Project (“Project Goal”) is to prepare school-based RJ leadership teams to implement successful RJ initiatives in K-12 schools by delivering: (i) comprehensive RJ trainings; (ii) coaching services to RJ leadership teams; and (iii) coaching-the-coaches support to coaches assisting RJ leadership teams.

Pursuant to the terms of the Grant Award, the Project Services as set forth in Article V below must be performed during March 14, 2025 – September 30, 2026. UCS reserves the right to request a no-cost extension of the Project Term from the Grantor.

AWARD

UCS intends to award one contract for a term commencing on or about March 14, 2025, and terminating on or about September 30, 2026 (“Contract Term”).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contract Term of any contract resulting from this RFP may extend to a term not to exceed five (5) years in total, which contract shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) five (5) years from the contract commencement date; or (ii) the complete expenditure of funding available for Project Services, whichever is earlier, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of said contract. Awarded contractor shall be contractually obligated to provide the Project Services for the Project Term, as it may be amended or extended. UCS and awarded contractor shall communicate regularly concerning the remaining amount of grant funds and the approximate timing of complete expenditure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Proposals will be considered only from proposers who meet the following minimum qualification:

Qualified proposers will possess at least three (3) years’ experience performing services similar or relevant to those described herein.

PROJECT SERVICES

UCS seeks proposals describing how the proposer will provide the services listed below (“Project Services”). The selected proposer shall be required to provide:

1. Training Services : Deliver at least eight (8) and at most ten (10) RJ leadership team trainings in person and/or online.

The trainings must address the following topics:

a. Overview of RJ history, principles, and research;

b. RJ and its connection to NYSED Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks 1, Mental Health Education Standards 2 , and Culturally Responsive Education Framework 3 ;

c. The stages of systemic implementation 4 , including embedding RJ into policies and codes of conduct;

1 https://www.nysed.gov/student-support-services/sel

2 https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/programs/curriculum-instruction/continuumofwellbeingguide.pdf

3 https://www.nysed.gov/crs/framework

4 https://www.nysed.gov/news/2025/new-guidance-and-resources-available-school-districts-support-implementationsocia

d. Establishing accountability systems, including periodic discipline data reporting and monitoring;

e. Methods for holding school leaders accountable for implementation through hiring and evaluation protocols; and

f. Action planning to support a mindful implementation process that includes key stakeholders.

Notes:

i. UCS will provide all publicity, scheduling, and registration services for upcoming training events, including communications with training participants.

ii. The awarded contractor shall provide UCS with copies of attendance sheets or other records documenting trainees' participation in trainings.

2. Coaching Services : Deliver implementation coaching services estimated to range from fifty (50) to one hundred (100) hours per leadership team to between two (2) and six (6) leadership teams trained to implement RJ practices, including monthly meetings to help school teams:

a. Facilitate monthly meetings with school leadership teams;

b. Identify additional team members as well as roles and responsibilities for team members, and

c. Make progress implementing the school’s individualized action plan developed during team leadership training.

d. Provide brief (1-3 hour) professional development trainings for school staff (if requested).

e. Provide technical assistance implementing RJ processes (if requested).

3. Coaching-the-Coaches Support: Deliver fifty (50) to one hundred (100) hours of coaching support to RJ implementation coaches who assist leadership teams trained to implement RJ practices.

Required Staffing:

The awarded proposer shall supply a Primary Trainer and a Coach. The same individual may serve as both the Primary Trainer and the Coach. Proposals in which the same individual will deliver both training and coaching services must establish that the individual possesses at least the minimum qualifications for both the Primary Trainer and Coach set forth below.

Minimum qualifications :

Primary Trainer: The Primary Trainer must have at least a master’s-level degree from an accredited college or university and at least three (3) years’ experience implementing RJ programming while in a school leadership position (e.g., superintendent, principal, or dean).

Coach: The Coach must have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience providing RJ implementation support to K-12 schools.

Preferred Staffing:

Proposals in which the same individual serves as both Primary Trainer and Coach will be preferred to proposals in which different individuals perform those roles.

Proposers may propose to include supporting co-trainers. Proposals featuring supporting co-trainers will be preferred to proposals featuring only a Primary Trainer.

RFP Issue Date February 18, 2025

Deadline to Submit Written Questions February 25, 2025 at 2:00PM EDT

Deadline to Submit Proposal March 11, 2025 at 2:00PM EDT

Estimated Contract Start Date March 14, 2025

The UCS looks forward to your response.