The Lansing School District's Restorative Justice Program was awarded an award from the Michigan Association of School Boards. The award recognizes the program's innovative technique of teaching students the skills needed to peacefully resolve conflicts.

Pattengill Middle School began offering the Restorative Justice Program during the 2005-06 school year as a tool for handling discipline issues. After the program's first year, the number of students suspended dropped 15.2 percent, while the percent of students suspended from middle schools that didn't offer the program increased.