Harassment, Intimidation, &

Bullying Presented by the Allendale and Northern Highlands

School District

An Overview of the Law and Major Changes

September 12, 2011

Overview

• New Jersey strengthened Anti-Bullying laws to be strongest in the nation – effective September 1, 2011.

• Aimed at ending bullying on & off school grounds• Major amendments to law:• New HIB definition• New Staff Functions• Policy & Procedures• Training program

• What to look for: Characteristics of victims & bullies

Harassment, Intimidation, & Bullying Definition

“Harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that:

1. Is reasonably perceived as being motivated by either any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability; or

2. By any other distinguishing characteristic; and that

3. Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds, as provided for in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.3, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other pupils; and that

4. A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act(s) will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a pupil or damaging the pupil’s property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or

5. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils; or

6. Creates a hostile educational environment for the pupil by interfering with a pupil’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the pupil.

New Staff Functions

• Anti-Bullying Coordinator (District)

• Anti-Bullying Specialist (School)

• School Safety Team (School)

Anti-Bullying Coordinator / Anti-Bullying Specialist

• Coordinate and strengthen district HIB policy to prevent identify, and address HIB

• Collaborates with anti-bullying specialist, Board of Education and Superintendent

• Provides Data to NJDOE

• Chairs School safety Team• Leads Investigation of reported

HIB incidents• Acts as Primary School

Official responsible for prevention, identification, and addressing HIB

• Assists Principal in defining range of responses

• Provides input to local board on annual re-evaluation, reassessment, and review of policy

School Safety Team

• Formed to develop, foster, maintain a positive school climate• Members• Principal • Teacher in school• Anti-bullying Specialist• Parent of a student in school• Others to be determined by Principal

• Receive reports of HIB complaints reported to Principal• Receive copies of HIB investigation reports• Identify and address patterns of HIB in school• Review and strengthen school climate and policies to prevent acts of HIB• Educate community to prevent and address HIB• Collaborate with Anti-Bullying Coordinator in data collection and review

of policies to prevent acts of HIB

Reporting Procedures

• All acts of HIB must be reported verbally to the principal on the same day when the school employee or contracted service provider witnessed or received reliable information regarding any such incident

• Principal must inform parents of all students involved in the alleged incident

• May discuss the availability of counseling and other intervention services

• All acts of HIB also must be reported in writing to the principal within two school days of when the school employee or contracted service provider witnessed or received reliable information

Investigating Procedures

• Initiated by the principal or designee within one school day of the verbal report

• Conducted by the anti-bullying specialist in consultation with the principal

• Principal may appoint additional personnel to assist with investigation

• Investigation shall be completed as soon as possible, but not later than 10 days from date of written report

• If additional, anticipated information relevant to the investigation is not received within 10 days, anti-bullying specialist may amend original report to reflect the information

Investigating Procedures

• Results shall be reported to the superintendent within two days of completing the investigation

• Superintendent may decide to: • Uphold the findings of the investigation• Take additional action. Actions may include:

• Provide intervention services• Establish training programs to reduce HIB and enhance school climate• Impose discipline• Order counseling• Take or recommend other appropriate action

• Results reported to the Board of Education no later than the date of the next board meeting following the completion of the investigation, along with information on action taken or recommended by superintendent

Results of InvestigationIn considering whether a response beyond the individual is appropriate the administration shall consider the nature and circumstances of the act, the degree of harm, nature and severity of behavior, past incidences or patterns of behavior, and context in which the alleged incidents occurred.

Possible remedial actions and consequences include, but are not limited to the following:

REMEDIAL ACTIONS• Restitution• Peer group support• Supportive student interventions (corrective

instructions, behavioral assessment, student counseling, etc.)

• Behavioral Management Plan• Parent conferences• Student treatment/therapy • Assignment of leadership responsibilities

(e.g. hallway monitor, bus monitor, etc.) other relevant learning or service experience

CONSEQUENCES• Temporary removal from classroom• Deprivation of privileges• Central detention• Saturday detention• In-School Suspension• Out-of-School Suspension• Ban from providing services, attending

school district sponsored programs, and/or school grounds

• Police action• Legal action• Expulsion

Training Program

• Districts are responsible for training the following groups:• Administrators• Staff (including part-time employees and volunteers)• New employees• Board of Education members• Students• Community at-large• Service providers

What to Look for - Characteristics of:Bullies Victims

• Controlling• Quick tempered and

impulsive• Deny wrong doing /

refuse to take responsibility

• Intolerant of differences• Good at talk their way out

of situations• Lack of empathy

• Low self-confidence• Anxiety• Sad appearance • Limited sense of humor• Poor social skills• Few or no friends• Excessive dependence on

adults• Could be in competition

with bully for social dominance in a group of friends