June 7, 2004 |
2004-R-0489 | |
REPORTS OF BULLYING BEHAVIOR | ||
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By: Soncia Coleman, Research Analyst | ||
You asked whether parents must submit a written report of bullying before school officials are required to investigate.
Legislation passed in 2002 requires all school boards to develop a policy addressing bullying (CGS § 10-222d). The law defines bullying as repeated, overt acts by one or more students on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity that are intended to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate another student.
The law requires, among other provisions, that such policies permit anonymous reports by students of bullying and written reports by parents or guardians of suspected bullying. The law also requires school administrators to investigate parents' written reports and review students' anonymous reports. Such policies were required to be devloped for use starting February 1, 2003.
While the law does not specifically require parents to submit a written report before school officials can investigate allegations of bullying, that may be the policy of the school board in question. However, under the law, school officials must investigate once a parent submits a report.
Board bullying policies must also:
1. require teachers and other school staff to notify school administrators when they witness bullying or students’ report it,
2. require each school to maintain a publicly available list of the number of verified bullying acts that occur there,
3. include an intervention strategy for school staff to deal with bullying,
4. include language about bullying in student codes of conduct, and
5. require notice to parents or guardians of all students involved in a verified act of bullying. The notice must describe the school's response and any consequences that may result from further acts of bullying.
SC: ts