and immediate physical threat to student, teacher, or public safety. School administrators should conduct an investigation prior to making a decision to request the involvement of law enforcement officers. The school investigation should include interviewing the student suspect and other witnesses to determine whether law enforcement involvement is appropriate, pursuant to the standards set forth in BP ####, Law Enforcement Contact.” address bullying, discrimination, or harassment to district or school staff. School staff should only request law enforcement assistance if there is a real and immediate physical threat to student, staff, or public safety. The policy should lay out the investigation procedure that the responsible district staff must follow before requesting law enforcement assistance. This requirement will also limit needless student-officer interactions. 5 Bullying and Disseminating Related Policies “To the extent possible, [District] and school strategies shall focus on prevention of bullying by establishing clear rules for student conduct and strategies to establish a positive, collaborative school climate. Students shall be informed, through student handbooks and other appropriate means, of district and school rules related to bullying, mechanisms available for reporting incidents or threats, and the consequences for perpetrators of bullying.” Students and parents must know what “bullying” is and the consequences for engaging in bullying behavior. Students also need to know how to report bullying incidents. Under the law in California, school districts must have a specific process for receiving and investigating complaints about bullying. 6–7 Bullying Duties and Complaint Procedures “School staff who witness bullying shall immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so. Students are encouraged to notify school staff when they Paragraphs 6 and 7 discuss three important legal requirements for school districts. The first is that school staff must immediately address Staff
are being bullied or suspect that another student is being victimized. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall develop means for students to report threats or incidents confidentially and anonymously. Each complaint of bullying should be promptly investigated. This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling to and from school or a activity, during the lunch period, whether on or off campus, and during a school-sponsored activity.” bullying when it is safe to do so. This is important because it requires that school staff take affirmative steps to protect students who have been bullied. The second requirement is that district staff must investigate only complaints about student conduct that occurs on school grounds, while traveling to or from a school-sponsored activity, or during a activity. Generally, students cannot be disciplined for conduct, and students have greater First Amendment (freedom of speech) protections outside of school. Third, the school district should create a system that allows students to safely and confidentially report bullying incidents to the school. 8 and Student Training “To ensure bullying does not occur on school campuses, the [District] will provide staff development training in bullying prevention and cultivate acceptance and understanding in all students and staff to build each school’s capacity to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.” Staff must receive adequate training so that they know when and how to intervene. This is especially important given California’s legal mandate that staff intervene to stop student bullying when it is safe to do so, and school staff’s role in preventing bullying and promoting a healthy, safe, and supportive school climate. campus