1. An Act Relative to Bullying in Schools MGL c 71, Section 370
Presentation
Watertown Public Schools
September 2010

2. Focus of Legislation:
Prevention
and Intervention

3. Support for this approach:
In 1983, 3 boys in Norway committed suicide after being seriously bullied
Norway’s Ministry of Education initiated an anti-bullying campaign
2500 students in 42 schools were followed for 2 ½ years by researcher Dan Olweus

4. Norwegian Results:
Students & teachers noted bullying incidents were reduced by half
There was less stealing & fighting
Classes were more orderly
Relationships in school improved

5. In the US, ABC News reported
A Principal in Ohio took another approach. He conducted an anonymous survey asking students to identify bullies in the Middle School…
Did not report the results, but intervened with 8 identified bullies
Resulted in a significant reduction in bullying

6. Why this focus? Students who bully do so for a variety of reasons:
They may be being bullied themselves outside of school
They may be experiencing hardships at home
They may be experiencing specific emotional/cognitive/psychiatric disorders
They may be trauma victims
These problems can lead to poor impulse control and anger management problems

7. Helping the bully to stop bullying is thought to be more effective than punishment alone
In addressing bullying, it is essential to change the climate/culture of the school!

8. What does the new law mean for schools?
Time Lines
Definitions
District Plan
Student Education
Parent/Guardian Education
Staff Education
Reporting System

9. Time Lines May 3, 2010 Anti-bullying Law enacted
August 24, DESE Model Plan released
Sept. 30, DESE Regulations due to Districts
December 30, District Plans due to DESE
HOWEVER, in Watertown
Handbook language and preliminary reporting systems should be operational in Sept 2010.

10. Definition: Bullying Bullying
“the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a victim that

11. (i) causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim’s property;
(ii) places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property;

12. (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the victim;
(iv) infringes on the rights of the victim at school;

13. Or, (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.”
(“Bullying” includes cyber-bullying in the law)

14. Definition: Cyber-bullying
“bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications.”

15. More “Cyber-bullying shall also include
(i) the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or
(ii) the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in clauses (i) through (v), inclusive of the definition of bullying.”

16. More
“Cyber-bullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in clauses (i) to (v), inclusive, of the definition of bullying.”

17. Bullying is prohibited
on school grounds,
property immediately adjacent to school grounds,
At any school-sponsored or school-related activity, function or program on or off school grounds
At a school bus stop, on a bus or other school vehicles
Through the use of technology of device owned, leased or used by the district or school
AND

18. Bullying is prohibited
Off school grounds or with non-school technology/devices…
“if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringes on the rights of the victim at school, or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.”

19. What is a “hostile environment”?
“…a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the student’s education.”

20. Retaliation
“…against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying
SHALL BE PROHIBITED”

21. In general, the new law:
Requires reporting of all incidents of bullying by all school personnel
Designates the Principal as the major compiler and investigator of such incidents and or patterns of incidents
Requires reporting of certain incidents to the police
Requires education of students, parents, staff, community

22. DESE Model Bullying Prevention & Intervention Plan
Released 8/24/2010
Details requirements of plans to be established by each District

23. I. Leadership Public Involvement in developing the Plan
Assessing needs and resources
Planning and oversight
Developing priority statements

24. II. Training & Professional Development
Annual staff training plan
Ongoing professional development
Annual written notice to the staff

25. III. Access to Resources & Services
Identifying Resources
Counseling & other services
Students with Disabilities
Referral to outside services

26. IV. Academic & Non-Academic Activities
Specific bullying prevention approaches
General teaching approaches that support bullying prevention efforts

27. V. Policies & Procedures for Reporting and. Responding to Bullying &
V. Policies & Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Bullying & Retaliation
Reporting bullying & retaliation
Reporting by Staff
Reporting by students, parents or guardians, and others

28. Responding to a report of bullying or retaliation
Safety
Obligation to notify others
Notice to parents or guardians
Notice to another school or district
Notice to law enforcement

29. Investigation Determinations by the Principal or designee
Made by the Principal or designee

30. Responses to Bullying
Teaching appropriate behavior through skill building
Taking disciplinary action
Promoting safety for the target and others

31. VI. Collaboration with Families
Parent Education
Notification requirements

32. VII. Prohibition Against Bullying & Retaliation
“The law requires each Plan to include a statement prohibiting bullying, cyberbullying, and retaliation.”
“The statement must be included in the Plan and included in the student code of conduct, the student handbook, and the staff handbook.”

33. The Plan must also include:
VIII. Definitions of
Aggressor, bullying, cyberbullying, hostile environment, retaliation, staff, target
IX. Information about the relationship of this law to other laws
Anti-discrimination laws
Anti-harassment laws

34. Thus far in Watertown:
Student curriculums have been established at Elementary and Middle School levels
The High School will select a curriculum this fall
All student handbooks include preliminary information about the Plan
School Committee Policy formation is in process

35. In process in Watertown:
Work is being done to establish a computer-based reporting system with IMG
Specific plans which meet all the law’s requirements are due December 30, 2010 and will be developed over the fall.
Education for staff, parents and community is being developed