Making Sense of HEA 1423Bully Prevention and Intervention

Presented by: Brian Dobias & Dr. Brandie Oliver

The “Why” Behind the Bill

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Indiana ranks 3rd in the nation for

incidences of electronic bullying and bullying on school property 1 in 4 students had been bullied at school during the

past 12 months prior to the survey 1 in 5 students had been bullied electronically during

the past 12 months prior to the survey 1 in 20 youth did not go to school in the past 30 days

prior to the survey for fear of safety at school or going to and from school

More Statistics

Long Term Impact: Studies from the National School Safety Center reported that 60 percent of students who were identified as school bullies ended up with a criminal record by age 24.

Bullying Violence:   New research on 37 school shootings, including Columbine, found that almost three-quarters of student shooters felt bullied, threatened, attacked or injured by others. In fact, several shooters reported experiencing long-term and severe bullying and harassment from their peers.  Source:  Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education

Keeping Kids Safe

Bullying is a form of peer aggression, just like dating and gang violence, and is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) that can lead to poor physical and mental health in adulthood, including post-traumatic stress disorder. However, research has shown that minimizing exposure to ACEs can greatly improve outcomes for youth. Schools, parents, communities and youth can all play a part in creating solutions to reduce peer aggression. If provided with the appropriate research-based tools and resources, bullying and other forms of peer aggression can be greatly reduced.

Indiana’s Response to Bullying

During the 2013 legislative session, the General Assembly passed HEA 1423, and the Governor signed P.L. 285-2013 into law. 

This law changed the definition of bullying and established bullying prevention and intervention program requirements for the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and school corporations. 

Benefits of the Bill For Students Students can feel confident if a bullying incident occurs that all adults in the school are trained and prepared to respond appropriatelyStudents that have been identified as exhibiting bullying behavior will be provided appropriate interventionsStudents that have been the target of bullying will be provided appropriate support and resourcesThis bill will help ensure a safer school environment allowing students to focus on academics Students will have developmentally appropriate bullying prevention education

Benefits of the Bill For Schools

They can benefit from guidance on research-based practices to prevent and intervene in bullying incidents

Reducing aggressive behaviors among students will create a safer school environment for students and teachers

Clearer definition of bullying and investigative measures so schools have documentation of reported incidents; not all reported incidents will be determined bullying

Requirements for the IDOEIn collaboration with school safety specialists and school counselors: 

1. Provide materials and guidelines to assist a safe school committee in developing a plan and policy that addresses school safety and professional development needs.

2. Prepare outlines or materials for age appropriate, research based bullying prevention instruction.

3. Establish categories of types of bullying incidents to allow school corporations to use the categories in making reports.

4. Periodically review each school corporation policy adopted under this section to ensure compliance. 

Anti-Bullying Summer Task Group

Task group formed on June 3, 2013 Target completion date : July 26, 2013 Goals:

1. Create a website with information and materials to guide and support school corporations with:a. Minimal compliance with the law

b. Development of Effective, Comprehensive Bully Prevention and Intervention Programs

2. Design the website to be “organic” in nature

3. Provide tools such as PowerPoints, webinars, sample lessons, etc

4. Meet the 8 week deadline

Anti-Bullying Summer Task Group

Challenges

1. What constitutes “research based?” Bully prevention curriculum based on proven

theoretical foundation, with some measures of effectiveness

2. How do schools prevent over reporting due to new staff accountability requirements? Recognized the need for schools to educate

stakeholders on specific definitions of bullying behaviors

3. How do schools meet the Oct 15th deadline? “Minimal Compliance / Better / Best” model

Website Live on august 5th

Resources to meet the requirements of this legislation can be found here: http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/bullying-prevention-intervention-indiana

Requirements for Local Schools

1. Report the number of bullying incidents reported under IC 20-34-6 (student safety reporting) by category.

2. Provide training to the school corporation’s employees and volunteers who have direct, ongoing contact with students concerning the school’s bullying prevention and reporting policy adopted under IC 20-33-8-13.5. 

3. Not later than October 15 of each year, each public school shall provide age appropriate, research based instruction as provided under IC 5-2-10.1-12(d)(1) focusing on bullying prevention for all students in grades 1-12.  Instruction may be delivered by a school safety specialist, school counselor, or any other person with training and expertise in the area of bullying prevention and intervention. 

4. Discipline rules adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must include a detailed procedure for the expedited investigation of incidents of bullying that includes:

a. appropriate responses to bullying behaviors, wherever the behaviors occur;

b. provisions for anonymous and personal reporting of bullying to a teacher or other school staff;

c. timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to the parents of both the targeted student and the bully, in an expedited manner;

d. timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to school counselors, school administrators, the superintendent, or law enforcement, if it is determined that reporting the bullying incident to law enforcement is necessary;

Requirements for Local Schools

e. discipline provisions for teachers, school staff, or school administrators who fail to initiate or conduct an investigation of a bullying incident; and

f. discipline provisions for false reporting of bullying; and

g. a detailed procedure outlining the use of follow-up services that includes:

I. support services for the victim; and

II. bullying education for the bully.

Requirements for Local Schools

Requirements for Local Schools

*The discipline rules may be applied regardless of the physical location in which the bullying behavior occurred, whenever:

the individual committing the bullying behavior and any of the intended targets of the bullying behavior are students attending a school within a school corporation; and

disciplinary action is reasonably necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or prevent an unreasonable threat to the rights of others to a safe and peaceful learning environment. 

A record made of an investigation, a disciplinary action, or a follow-up action performed under rules adopted under this section is not a public record under IC 5-14-3.

Bullying Prevention and the Law

Bullying is defined for Indiana schools in HEA 1423

IC 20-33-8-0.2 – “Bullying” means: Overt (intentional) unwanted, repeated acts or gestures

including: Verbal or Written communication, or images transmitted in

any manner (including digitally or electronically) Physical acts committed, aggression, or any other behaviors

that are committed by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to Harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the

targeted student and Create for the targeted student an objectively hostile

school environment

Identification of Bullying

Bullying behavior must be identified using all of the components of the definition in HEA 1423: Repeated behavior Intention to cause harm Creation of “objectively hostile learning environment”

(Imbalance of Power) Schools should include in their education, policies, and

procedures ways to help students and staff identify when a situation is NOT bullying Peer conflict Horseplay Fighting

Bullying is considered to be a form of abuse – mutual conflict where both parties participate equally is not considered Bullying

Types of Bullying(Categories of Bullying for

IDOE Reporting Requirements)

Physical

Verbal

Social/Relational

Electronic or Written Communication

Combination of Categories

Comprehensive Anti-Bullying Program

Increase Awareness Coordination of Services Ongoing Evaluation

Source: “Early Identification and Intervention. Bullying Prevention,” by Dr. Russell Skiba, Indiana Education Policy Center

Summary

Bullying in schools is everyone’s problem.As we move forward….

1.Focus on school corporation compliance with HEA 1423 by developing policy, protocols and a delivery plan for age appropriate, research-based bully prevention curriculum.2.Utilize resources provided through the IDOE Bullying Prevention and Intervention Website3.Move beyond minimal compliance by developing an effective, comprehensive bully prevention and intervention program

Anti-Bullying Summer Task GroupMembers

Co-Facilitators Dr. Brandie Oliver – Asst. Professor - Butler University Counselor Ed Program Brian Dobias – Counselor – SACS -Homestead HS

Members Jeff Ziegler – Principal & School Safety Specialist - Jimtown HS Marcia Staser – Coordinator of Student Support Services – Evansville Vanderburgh

School Corp Justine Pond – District Safety specialist – Marion HS Floyd Peterson – Indianapolis Public Schools Police Dept.

Members (continued) Pam Pulls – Social Worker - Monroe County Community School Corporation Bridget Hand – Counselor – Westview Elementary – Muncie Terry Thixton – Counselor – East Washington Elementary School Jennifer Wallace – Counselor - Marion High School Danielle Tschida – Counselor – Marion High School Gina Woodward – School Counselor – Clark-Pleasant MS – Former IDOE Kristen Martin – Marion County Prosecutor’s Office

Indiana Department of Education Amanda Culhan – Program Coordinator School Counseling Michael Williams- Program Coordinator for School Social Work David Woodward – Program Coordinator for School Safety Cathy Danyluk – State Attendance Office & Asst. Director of Office of Student Services