1. MPS Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy

2. State of Alabama Passed Law Requiring School Districts to Adopt an Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy by July 1, 2010
“Alabama is the most recent of 44 states to pass an anti-bullying law, which makes it illegal for students to harass, bully, intimidate, harm or threaten to harm fellow students. The law requires the state's 131 public school districts to pass anti-bullying and harassment policies by July 1.”
Published: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 6:00 AM     Updated: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 7:06 AM - By Marie Leech – The Birmingham News

3. MPS Adopted an Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy on April 28, 2009
The MPS Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy was distributed to students and parents for the first time in the 2009/2010 Code of Student Behavior on August 10, 2009.

4. Parts of Policy Purpose
Definitions of Bullying, Harassment, Disability Harassment, Racial Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Hazing
Reporting Bullying and Harassment Behavior
Consequences for Bullying or Harassment

5. Reporting Bullying and Harassment Behavior
Bullying/Harassment should be reported immediately
Written report may be made to any staff member
Teachers/other staff members are required to promptly notify the principal/principal designee
Bullying/Harassment Complaint Form

6. Reporting Bullying and Harassment Behavior
Principal/principal designee must accept and investigate all reports of bullying and harassment
Principal/principal designee must notify parents/guardian of the complainant and individual(s) against whom the complaint was filed prior to the investigation taking place
Investigation must be completed within five (5) business days of receiving notice of complaint
Principal/principal designee must make a written report to the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support upon completion of the investigation.

7. Consequences for Bullying or Harassment Behavior
School administration must determine appropriate
Consequences – disciplinary actions
Remedial Measures – corrective measures

8. Consequences for Bullying or Harassment Behavior
Consequences (disciplinary actions):
Shall be unique to the individual incident
Will vary in method and severity according to:
the nature of the behavior
the developmental age of the student
the student’s history of problem behaviors and performance
must be consistent with the Code of Student Behavior

9. Consequences for Bullying or Harassment Behavior
Examples of Consequences
Admonishment/parent conference
Temporary removal from the classroom/isolation
Loss of privileges
Classroom or administrative detention/after school detention
Referral to disciplinarian
In-school suspension
Out-of-school suspension, not to exceed five days
Due process hearing

10. Consequences for Bullying or Harassment Behavior
Remedial Measures (corrective measures) shall be designed to:
Correct the problem behavior
Prevent another occurrence
Protect the victim of the act

11. Consequences for Bullying or Harassment Behavior
Examples of Remedial Measures (Personal)
Peer Support Group
Corrective instruction or other relevant learning or service experience
Supportive discipline
Supportive intervention (such as peer mediation)
Behavioral assessment or evaluation
Behavior management plan
Appropriate therapeutic services

12. Consequences for Bullying or Harassment Behavior
Examples of Remedial Measures (Environmental)
Adoption of research-based, systematic bullying prevention programs (“Too Good for Violence”)
School culture change
School climate improvement
Modifications of schedules
Adjustments in hallway traffic
Modifications in student routes or patterns traveling to and from school
Targeted use of monitors (e.g., hallways, cafeteria, bus)
Professional development for staff
Involvement of community-based organizations