Montgomery County Public Schools Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation

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Board of Education of Montgomery County Policy JHF: Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation

MCPS Regulation JHF-RA: Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation

Creating an environment that is free of bullying, harassment, or intimidation so that schools are safe places in which to learn

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Safe Schools promote Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

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Bullying

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Safe Places

Bullies may exhibit: Lack of empathy for others and pro-violent

attitudes Anger issues and impulsivity A low tolerance for frustration Bullies may have: Families who handle conflicts with fighting,

criticism, and name-calling Limited parental supervision and

involvement Parents who have inconsistent, harsh, or

extremely permissive discipline styles

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Being Bullied May Cause

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Health Problems: O Loss of appetite O Stomach aches O Vomiting O Headaches O Loss of sleep O Nervousness O Anxiety O Depression O Loneliness

Academic Problems: O School avoidance O Truancy O Higher drop-out

rate O Lower grades and

trouble learning O Low self-esteem O Low self-confidence

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It should be noted that in 2009, MCPS implemented the Bullying, Harassment, or Intimation policy and regulation , making the reporting forms available to the public. This might explain the sharp increase in the number of reported incidences.

Trend data on bullying reports in MCPS

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100

200

300

400

500

600

2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011

Number of Bullying Reports

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50

60

70

80

Agebirth to

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Age 5 Age 6 Age 7 Age 8 Age 9 Age 10 Age 11 Age 12 Age 13 Age 14 Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18 Age 19and

older

Age of MCPS Student Victims

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10

20

30

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50

60

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Agebirth to

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Age 5 Age 6 Age 7 Age 8 Age 9 Age 10 Age 11 Age 12 Age 13 Age 14 Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18 Age 19and

older

Age of Alleged MCPS Student Offenders

Start Process

• MCPS Form 230-35, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form, may be completed by a student, parent/guardian, close adult relative, or staff member. The form should be submitted to the school principal.

Within 2 days

•The school principal/designee investigates the incident and documents the findings by completing MCPS Form 230-36. These forms are maintained in a confidential file in the school office. They are not maintained in a student’s cumulative file.

Within 24 hours

•The school principal and/or designee will contact the parents of all students involved in the incident of

bullying , harassment, or intimidation within 24 hours of completing the investigation. The school will take immediate and appropriate steps to discipline the offender ; support the student who was bullied; and protect the student from reprisals prevent recurrence.

Within 2 Weeks

•Designated school staff will conduct separate conferences with the student who was bullied and the student who bullied within two weeks after the investigation to verify the bullying, harassment, or intimidation has ceased

Document in OASIS

•Using both MCPS Form 230-35 and Form 230-36, school staff complete an entry/report in the OASIS bullying module for the victim only. A confidential file of the bullying reports are kept in the school’s administrative office.

Four weeks

•Another follow-up conference or conversation will be held with the student who was bullied and the student who bullied four weeks after the investigation to verify that the bullying, harassment, or intimidation has ceased

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Parents/guardians, students, and staff

members can complete this form

MCPS Form 230-35

What would you do?

O Click on one of the post-it notes to continue 14

High School

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Maria texted her girlfriend, Latisha, and described her dreams about Jose asking her to go to the prom. Latisha then sends out a text to all her girlfriends describing how Maria feels about Jose. It ends up on Facebook. Jose’s girlfriend gets upset and places a picture of Maria’s head on a nude woman’s body and calls her a slut. What should Maria do? What should the school do?

Turn to an elbow partner and discuss what you would do!

Middle School

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Sam’s father calls the counselor at his son’s middle school and says that he saw Sam’s Facebook page. Sam is being taunted by some other students who say that Sam is gay and likes to hang out with boys rather than girls. He is being cyber-bullied. What actions should be taken?

Turn to an elbow partner and discuss what you would do!

Elementary School

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Maria comes in after recess and tells you that her friend Sophia tripped her. She tells you that this is happening daily. Sophia calls Maria “dummy”, “retard”, and encourages others to exclude her from soccer games. What should the school do?

Turn to an elbow partner and discuss what you would do!

What can you do?

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Intervene

Stop the bullying behavior when it

occurs and ensure that all

involved are safe

Gather info

Speak privately to

the students, including

bystanders

Set Expectations

Name the bullying behavior and refer

to the school rules

Document

Encourage the

students who are

bullied to complete a

report of bullying.

Set Consequences

Report to admin

Impose appropriate, immediate remedial actions or

consequences; report!

Reinforce a

supportive climate

Support the victim;

Encourage and praise

bystanders/witnesses who report

acts of bullying

Proactively increase SEL competencies. When necessary do the following…

What are your school’s current prevention and intervention

strategies?

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Prevention & Intervention O Foster positive relationships and interactions

with students O Supervise in all areas of the school building O Provide prompt, fair, and consistent

enforcement of bullying policies O Teach students strategies for dealing with peer

issues, including bullying O Model desired attitudes and behaviors O Implement classroom guidance lessons and

small group counseling O Consider peer tutoring and mentoring activities O Establish culture of acceptance

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Working together, we can create and maintain a school

environment free from bullying and where every student feels comfortable,

supported, and safe!

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Resources

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O Board of Education Policy JHF, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation

O MCPS Regulation JHF-RA, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation

O Community Resources and Internet Sites Regarding Bullying

O Problem Solving for Student Success

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Elementary Resources O Positive Behavioral

Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

O Stop Bullying Now O No Putdowns O Bullyproofing Your School O Second Step O Character Counts O Stop Picking on Me O Stand Up Against Bullies

Secondary Resources O Positive Behavioral

Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

O Stop Bullying Now O Student Assistance

Program O It’s All About Respect O Bullyproofing Your School O Second Step O Character Counts O The Bully, The Bullied, and

Beyond

Disseminating Bullying Reporting Information

• Announcements and meetings prior to the opening of school and during the first week of school

• Newsletters and Connect-ED messages

• PTA Meetings

• Reporting Form (MCPS Form 230-35) made available in multiple school locations, including the administrative office, counselor’s office, media center, health room and as a link on the school website.

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Web Resources • www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov • www.stopbullyingnow.com • www.bullying.org • www.safeyouth.com • www.cyberbullying.com • www.safeyouth.org • www.inthemix.org/bullying • www.kidshealth.org • www.pta.org/bullying.asp • www.stopbullyingworld.com • http://www.netsmartzkids.org/indexFL.htm

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Books for Educators O Bullying in Schools, P.Langdon O How to Handle a Bully, L. Mintle O Bullying, Implications for the Classroom, C. Sanders O The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander, B. Coloroso O The Bully Free Classroom, A. Beane O And Words Can Hurt Forever, J. Garbarino

and E. deLara

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