Responsibility-Centered Discipline

Foster responsibility, empathy, and self-regulation in every learner. 

Hundreds of schools across North America are embracing Larry Thompson’s Responsibility-Centered Discipline (RCD) – a groundbreaking approach that supports students in developing intrinsic motivation and growing as conscientious and active members of their school communities. Emphasizing responsibility, empathy, and self-regulation, RCD offers a transformative whole-school method to create a thriving school climate and responsible students. 

In this clear and explicit guide, Thompson presents an overview of RCD and its foundations, the six exits students commonly use to avoid responsibility, a structured conversation to return students to a path of responsibility, and a process educators can implement to create a solutions space. Additional features include: 

• Success stories from the field


• Research highlights


• Coaching conversations


• Questions to help readers apply the information to their own contexts

A must-read for teachers and education leaders seeking to reimagine discipline for a healthier and more supportive educational environment, Responsibility-Centered Discipline provides research-based actions to build skills such as responsibility, perseverance, empathy, and self-regulation in every learner from preK through high school.