The process includes a written complaint form, an investigation into the facts of each case, a plea from the defendant, the imposition of sentences or consequences, and a right of appeal. All rules are contained in written form in the Lawbook, and the rules apply to staff members as well as students. Parents as well as students and staff members vote in the school's Assembly. This group has ultimate responsibility for the school, setting basic policy and approving the budget. Besides being a fair and effective way to run a school, democratic governance provides students with an invaluable learning experience.
Students practice making important decisions about ethical behavior and money.
They learn through trial and error how to make a case for what they want. And they develop a deep understanding of how democratic groups function. There are some ways in which the Sudbury model is similar to the Montessori approach. Children in both settings are allowed more freedom to make decisions about what interests them and how to pace themselves than in most other schools. Both models also hold the basic assumption that children are naturally curious and don't need to be forced to learn.