Bullying Policy

The Dallas Independent School District prohibits bullying. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of district policy.

The district prohibits the bullying of any student:

1. During any educational program or activity conducted by the district;
2. During any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity or on a school bus;
3. Through the use of any electronic device or data while on school grounds or on a school bus or through the use of computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, or computer network of the school district. The physical location or time of access of a computer-related incident cannot be raised as a defense in any disciplinary action initiated under this section; or
4. Through threats, using any of the above methods, to be carried out on school grounds, which includes threats made outside of school hours that are intended to be carried out during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, or on a school bus.

Though an incident of alleged bullying may occur off campus and may not entail threats of acts to occur during school hours, if a student’s ability to receive an education or a school’s ability to provide an education is significantly impaired, as determined by the district administration, disciplinary sanctions may be imposed.

Such behavior is considered harassment or bullying whether it takes place on or off school property, at any school-sponsored function, or in a school vehicle.

A student or witness may file a complaint following the same procedures for bullying against a student that occurs at a bus stop or en route to and from school, and the school shall investigate and/or provide assistance and intervention as the principal or designee deems appropriate, which may include the use of the Dallas ISD police department.

The following definitions shall apply:

Bullying means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students. Bullying of a student may include hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, confinement, assault, demands for money, extortion, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, ridicule, name-calling, rumor spreading, slurs, jokes, innuendos, demeaning comments, and ostracism of the person or another.

It is further defined as any unwanted purposeful gesture or written, verbal, graphic, or physical act (including electronically transmitted acts – i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or wireless hand-held device) that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, socio-economic background, social/family background, linguistic preference, political beliefs, or a mental, physical, or sensory disability, difference, or impairment; or by any other distinguishing characteristic or because of one’s association with a particular person or group of persons.

Bullying also includes, but is not limited to, any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by a student, that has the potential to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment or cause long-term damage, cause discomfort or humiliation, or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation, or is carried out repeatedly and is often characterized by an imbalance of power.

Bullying may involve, but is not limited to:

• Verbal: Hurtful name-calling, teasing, gossiping, making threats, making rude noises, or spreading hurtful rumors.
• Nonverbal: Posturing, making gang signs, leering, staring, stalking, destroying property, using graffiti or graphic images, or exhibiting inappropriate and/or threatening gestures or actions.
• Physical: Hitting, punching, pushing, shoving, poking, kicking, tripping, strangling, hair pulling, fighting, beating, biting, spitting, or destroying property.
• Emotional (Psychological): Rejecting, terrorizing, extorting, defaming, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, manipulating friendships, isolating, ostracizing, using peer pressure, or rating or ranking personal characteristics.

Bullying occurs when a student or a group of students engages in written or verbal expression or physical conduct that:

• Will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property;
• Is so sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; or
• Has the effect of substantially negatively impacting a student’s emotional or mental well-being.

• Cyberbullying is defined as willful harassment and intimidation of a person through the use of digital technologies, including, but not limited to, e-mail, blogs, texting on cell phones, social Web sites (e.g., MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and the like), chat rooms, “sexting”, instant messaging, or video voyeurism by accessing or knowingly and willingly causing or providing access to data or computer software through a computer, computer system, or computer network within the scope of the District network system.
• Cyberstalking means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at or about a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.
• Prohibited Harassment includes, but is not limited, to oral, written, psychological, physical (both climate and contact), and other demonstrative actions with regard to race, creed, ethnic origin, religious preference, gender, disability, or sexual orientation that is harassing. [See Board Policy FFH(LOCAL)]
• Accused is defined as any district student in the school or outside the school at school-sponsored events, on school buses, or at training facilities or training programs sponsored by the district who is reported to have committed an act of bullying, whether formally or informally, verbally, or in writing.
• Complainant is defined as any individual who has a complaint or concern.
• Victim is defined as any district student who is reported to have been the target of an act of bullying during any educational program or activity.

Reports of bullying should be made as soon as possible after the alleged act or knowledge of the alleged act. A failure to promptly report may impair the District’s ability to investigate and address the prohibited conduct. Reports can be made here. For more information about the district’s Bullying Procedures.

Any district employee who receives notice that a student has or may have experienced bullying shall immediately make a report on the district's Student Discipline System.

Failure of a district employee to report a suspected instance of bullying may result in disciplinary action.

The campus principal will be notified via email when a report has been made and will have 10 days to complete an investigation.

The campus principal or designee shall determine whether the allegations in the report, if proven, would constitute prohibited conduct as defined by Board Policy FFH(LOCAL), and if so proceed under that policy instead.

The campus principal or designee shall conduct an appropriate investigation based on the allegations in the report. The campus principal or designee shall promptly take interim action calculated to prevent bullying during the course of an investigation, if appropriate.

Appropriate prevention and intervention steps shall be taken based on the level of severity of infraction as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Absent extenuating circumstances, the investigation should be completed within ten school days from the date of the report; however, the campus principal or designee shall take additional time if necessary to complete a thorough investigation.

The campus principal or designee will complete the investigation on the Student Discipline System, including a determination of whether bullying occurred.

If the results of an investigation indicate that bullying occurred, the campus principal shall promptly respond by taking appropriate disciplinary or corrective action reasonably calculated to address the conduct in accordance with the district’s Student Code of Conduct. [For information on student transfers due to bullying, see Board Policy FDB.]

The principal shall convene the Student Support Team (SST) for the purpose of developing a plan of action/interventions for the victim and/or perpetrator, even if the District concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying under this policy.

Victims of bullying shall be offered counseling services ranging from those provided by school counselors to a referral to one of the District’s Youth and Family Centers.

Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a student who commits one or more acts of harassment or bullying may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Consequences for a student who commits an act of harassment or bullying shall be unique to the individual incident and shall vary in method and severity according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, and the student’s history of problem behaviors and performance. The consequences must also be consistent with the district’s Student Code of Conduct.

The district may take action based on the results of an investigation, even if the district concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying under this policy.

To the greatest extent possible, the district shall respect the privacy of the complainant, persons against whom a report is filed, and witnesses. Limited disclosures may be necessary in order to conduct a thorough investigation.

A parent, legal guardian, or adult student who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation or plan of action may appeal through Board Policy FNG(LOCAL) beginning at the appropriate level.

Retention of records shall be in accordance with Board Policy CPC(LOCAL).

Information regarding this policy shall be distributed annually to district students through the Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct. Copies of the policy shall be readily available at each campus and the district’s administrative offices.

The district designates the following department to coordinate training and counseling services related to this policy:

Department: Counseling Services
Position: Director, Counseling Services
9400 N Central Expressway
Telephone: (972) 925-8989

At the beginning of each school year, the school principal or principal’s designee and/or appropriate Executive Director shall provide awareness of this policy, as well as about the process for reporting incidents, investigations, and appeals to students, school staff, parents, or other persons responsible for the welfare of students through appropriate references in the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, the school website, and/or other reasonable means.

To reduce the number of bullying incidents, campus counselors are mandated to deliver professional development sessions to faculty and staff concerning the proper reporting of bullying. In addition, they are tasked with conducting guidance lessons for students encompassing individuals affected by bullying, bystanders, witnesses, and those accused of bullying. Counseling Services will be made available to victims, bystanders, witnesses, and the accused, ranging from support provided by school counselors to referrals to Mental Health Services or one of the District's Youth and Family Centers.

The Board expects students to conduct themselves in a manner in keeping with their levels of development, maturity, and demonstrated capabilities with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, school staff, volunteers, and contractors.

The Board believes that standards for student behavior must be set cooperatively through interaction among the students, parents and guardians, staff, and community members of the District, producing an atmosphere that encourages students to grow in self-discipline. The development of this atmosphere requires respect for self and others, as well as for District and community property on the part of students, staff, and community members.

The Board believes that the best discipline is self-imposed, and that it is the responsibility of staff to use disciplinary situations as opportunities for helping students learn to assume responsibility and the consequences of their behavior. Staff members who interact with students shall apply best practices designed to prevent discipline problems and encourage students’ abilities to develop self discipline.

Since bystander support of harassment or bullying can support these behaviors, the district prohibits both active and passive support for acts of harassment or bullying. The staff should encourage students to support students who walk away from these acts when they see them, constructively attempt to stop them, or report them to the designated authority.
The district shall incorporate information regarding the policy against harassment or bullying into the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and appropriate training programs.

The standards of this policy constitute a specific, focused, coordinated, integrated, culturally sensitive system of supports for all students, staff, families, and community agencies that will improve relations within each school. It is designed to ensure that every school has staff members who have been trained and are supported in their school’s efforts to provide awareness, intervention training, and instructional strategies on prevention, including violence prevention, to each student, staff, and parent in the District and to direct follow up when incidents are reported and/or occur.

See Board Policy FFI(Local)

School Safety Lessons Learned: From Cleveland to Newtown by Dr. Stephen Sroka