Indianapolis students mediate conflicts to reduce suspensions
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Students at H.L. Harshman Middle School in Indianapolis, Indiana are using peer mediation to resolve disputes and decrease disciplinary action.
Sixth grader Jocelyn Montiel and her classmates practice conflict resolution techniques as part of a program that began a decade ago. Students learn to guide their peers through disagreements, offering a less intimidating environment than speaking with adults. Isabell Gonzales, an eighth grader, explained that talking to peers creates “less pressure” than involving teachers.
The program received a boost from a $1.2 million grant from Indiana University Health, allowing the Peace Learning Center to train students in mediation skills. Peer mediators typically address disagreements between friends or conflicts about relationships, which can be more difficult to resolve than simple issues like lost items. Harshman Middle School leaders say the program has led to fewer fights and suspensions. Data from the Richard M.
Fairbanks Foundation shows the school’s out-of-school suspension rate dropped from 26% in 2023 to 8% in the 2024-25 school year. Over the last school year, the student mediators resolved approximately 25 conflicts. Principal Amy Moore noted that students are now using conflict resolution language in the hallways, demonstrating the program’s impact on the school’s culture.
