Ricardo Perez, Jr.

Chief of Police at Edinburg CISD

BULLYING RECOGNITION, INTERVENTION, AND PREVENTION

PreventionInterventionEducation

“STRATEGIES”

TEXAS SCHOOL BULLYING LAWS2013

Chief Ricardo Perez Jr. Edinburg CISD Police Department

HOUSE BILL 1942 THE STATE OF TEXAS 42ND

LEGISLATURE (ENACTED SEPT 1, 2011)

HB 1942EDUCATION CODE 21.451

“STAFF DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS”SECTION 1. Section 21.451(d), Education Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(d) The staff development:

(1) may include training in:

(A)

technology;

(B)

conflict resolution; [and]

(C)

discipline strategies, including

classroom

management, district discipline policies, and the student

code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; and

(D) preventing, identifying, responding to, and

reporting incidents of bullying; and subject to Subsection (e), must include training based on scientifically based research, as defined by Section 9101, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

HB 1942 (Education Code)SECTION 2. The heading to Section 25.0342, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:Sec. 25.0342. TRANSFER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF OR HAVE ENGAGED IN

BULLYING. SECTION 3. Section 25.0342, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and

adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: In this section, “Bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section 37.0832[means engaging in written or verbal expression or physical conduct that a school district board of trustees or the board's designee determines: [(1) 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; or [(2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student]. (b-1) The board of trustees of a school district may transfer the student who engaged in bullying to: another classroom at the campus to which the victim was assigned at the time the bullying occurred; or a campus in the district other than the campus to which the victim was assigned at the time the bullying occurred, in consultation with a parent or other person with authority to act on behalf of the student who engaged in bullying. (b-2) Section 37.004 applies to a transfer under Subsection (b-1) of a student with a disability who receives special education services.

HB 1942 (Education Code)SECTION 4 Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection

(s) to read as follows:

In this subsection, "bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section 37.0832 and "harassment" has the meaning assigned by Section 37.001. In addition to any other essential knowledge and skills the State Board of Education adopts for the health curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the board shall adopt for the health curriculum, in consultation with the Texas School Safety Center, essential knowledge and skills that include evidence-based practices that will effectively address awareness, prevention, identification, self-defense in response to, and resolution of and intervention in bullying and harassment.

SECTION 5 Section 37.001(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

In this section "Bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section 37.0832 (1) "Harassment" means threatening to cause harm or bodily injury to another student,

engaging in sexually intimidating conduct, causing physical damage to the property of another student, subjecting another student to physical confinement or restraint, or maliciously taking any action that substantially harms another student's physical or emotional health or safety.

(2) [(2)] "Hit list" means a list of people targeted to be harmed, using: (A) a firearm, as defined by Section 46.01(3), Penal Code;

(b)A knife, as defined by Section 46.01(7), Penal Code; or(c)any other object to be used with intent to cause bodily harm.

HB 1942 (Education Code)

SECTION 6. Section 37.083(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a discipline management program to

be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252. The program must provide for

prevention of and education concerning unwanted physical or verbal aggression and [,] sexual

harassment [, and other forms of bullying] in school, on school grounds, and inschool vehicles.

HB 1942 (Education Code)SECTION 7. Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by

adding Section 37.0832 to read as follows:

Sec. 37.0832. BULLYING PREVENTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. (a) In this section, "bullying" means, subject to Subsection (b), engaging in written or verbal

expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:

(1) has the effect or 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'sperson or of damage to the student's property; or

(2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.

(b) Conduct described by Subsection (a) is considered bullying if that conduct: (3) exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim

through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and (4) Interferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.

HB 1942 (Education Code) Cont’d.Sec. 37.0832 BULLYING PREVENTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.(Continued)

Interferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.

(c) The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt a policy, including any necessary procedures, concerning bullying that:

(1) prohibits the bullying of a student; (2) Prohibits retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying;(3) establishes a procedure for providing notice of an incident of bullying to a parent or guardian of the victim and a parent or guardian of the bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident; (4) establishes the actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying; (5) sets out the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying;(6) establishes procedures for reporting an incident of bullying, investigating a reported incident of bullying, and determining whether the reported incident of bullying occurred;(7) Prohibits the imposition of a disciplinary measure on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student's use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying(8) requires that discipline for bullying of a student with disabilities comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.).

(d) The policy and any necessary procedures adopted under Subsection (c) must be included:(2) annually, in the student and employee school district handbooks; and(3) in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252.

(e) The procedure for reporting bullying established under Subsection (c) must be posted on the district's Internet website to the extent practicable.

Education Code 37.001 (a)(7-8)(Student Code of Conduct)

(a) The board of trustees of an independent school district shall, with the advice of its district-level committee established under Subchapter F, Chapter 11, adopt a student code of conduct for the district. The student code of conduct must be posted and prominently displayed at each school campus or made available for review at the office of the campus principal. In addition to establishing standards for student conduct, the student code of conduct must:

(7) prohibit bullying, harassment, and making hit lists and ensure that district employees enforce those prohibitions; and(8) provide, as appropriate for students at each grade level, methods, including options, for:

(A) managing students in the classroom and on school grounds; (B) disciplining students; and (C) preventing and intervening in student discipline problems,

including bullying, harassment, and making hit lists.(b) In this section:

(1) "Harassment" means threatening to cause harm or bodily injury to another student, engaging in sexually intimidating conduct, causing physical damage to the property of another student, subjecting another student to physical confinement or restraint, or maliciously taking any action that substantially harms another student's physical or emotional health or safety.

(2) "Hit list" means a list of people targeted to be harmed, using: (A) a firearm, as defined by Section 46.01(3), Penal Code; (B) a knife, as defined by Section 46.01(7), Penal Code; or (C) any other object to be used with intent to cause bodily harm.

Education Code 25.0341§ 25.0341. TRANSFER OF VICTIMS OF BULLYING

(a) In this section, "bullying" means engaging in written or verbal expression or physical conduct that a school district board of trustees or the board's designee determines:

(1) 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; or

(2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.(b) On the request of a parent or other person with authority to act on behalf of a student who is a victim of bullying, the board of trustees of a school district or the board's designeeshall transfer the victim to:

(1) another classroom at the campus to which the victim was assigned at the time the bullying occurred; or

(2) a campus in the school district other than the campus to which the victim was assigned at the time the bullying occurred.(c) The board of trustees or the board's designee shall verify that a student has been a victim of bullying before transferring the student under this section.(d) The board of trustees or the board's designee may consider past student behavior when identifying a bully.(e) The determination by the board of trustees or the board's designee is final and may not be appealed.(f) A school district is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus under Subsection (b)(2).

BULLY cases Investigated resulting in P.I.E. strategies for De-Escalating the RIPPLE EFFECT

ECISD POLICE CASE # BULLY CASE OF PASSION

ECISD POLICE CASE # -CYBER BULLY CASE-MOTIVATIONAL GROUP

ECISD POLICE CASE # 12-13-1418-EMPLOYEE BULLY CASE

EDINBURG CISD ANTI-BULLYING

INITIATIVE

WWW.ECISD.US

EDINBURG CISD ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE

EDINBURG CISD POLICIES:

FFI (LEGAL) – PROVIDES FRAMEWORKFFI (LOCAL) – DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Policy prohibits Bullying.2. Policy Prohibits Retaliation against anyone who provides information

on an incident of bullying.3. Provides notice to parent of the victim and the student who engaged

in bullying.4. Establishes the procedures that a student should take to obtain

assistance and intervention in response to bullying.

EDINBURG CISD ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE

5. Counseling options will be provided to the victim, the witnesses of bullying, and the student who engaged in bullying.

6. Procedures for reporting, investigating and determining that bullying occurred will be established. (within 10 district business days.

7. Prohibits disciplining a victim for self-defense in a bullying incident.

8. Discipline of student with disabilities comply with I.D.E.A. (federal law)

EDINBURG CISD ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE

EDINBURG CISD EMPLOYEES MANDATORY TRAINING:

• POLICIES (FFI (LEGAL) AND FFI (LOCAL))

• EDINBURG CISD STATEMENT ON BULLYING

• TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER BULLYING TRAINING.

EDINBURG CISD ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE

EDINBURG CISD PROCEDURES AND ACTIVITIES CREATED:

• FORMS FOR PARENTS AT REGISTRATION• ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGE FOR ORGANIZATIONS• BULLYING REPORT FORM ON ECISD WEBSITE• “SAFE HAVEN” OR “SAFE ROOM”• PROJECT WISDOM CHARACTER ED LESSONS.• NEW PK-2 CURRICULUM “JELLYBEAN JAMBOREE”• STUDENT – LED CAMPUS COMMITTEE.

For Educators:What You Should Know:

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both students who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen traveling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or on the Internet.

There are common types of bullying that can occur:• Verbal bullying: Saying or writing mean things• Social bullying: Commonly referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships.• Physical bullying: hurting a person’s body or possessions

It is important to talk with children who show signs of being bullied or bullying others. Bullying can point to other issues or problems, such as depression or substance abuse. Talking to the student can help identify the root of the problem

What Should You Do?

There are simple steps teachers can take to stop bullying on the spot and keep students safe:

• Intervene immediately. It is ok to get another teacher to help when multiple students involved.• Separate the students involved.• Make sure everyone is safe.• Meet any immediate medical or mental health needs.• Stay calm. Reassure the students involved, including bystanders.• Model respectful behavior when you intervene.

EDINBURG CISD ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE

Supt. Dr. Rene Gutierrez approved EDINBURG CISD

ANTI-BULLYING SIGNS PLACED AT ALL

43 EDINBURG CISD CAMPUSES 2013

BULLYING DEFINITION

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or

perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated,

over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking

someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

CYCLE OF BULLYINGBully

Starts the bullying and takes an active part

FollowerTakes an active part, but does not start the

bullying

SupporterSupports the bullying but does not take an active

part Passive Supporter(Possible Bully)

Likes the bullying but does not display open support

Disengaged Onlooker

Defender of the Victim

Dislikes the bullying and helps or tries to help the

victimPossible Defender

Dislikes the bullying and thinks he ought to help but doesn’t

TARGET

BULLY CHARACTERISTICS

• High self-esteem

• May be popular

• More likely to engage in other problem behaviors later in life, such as criminal activity or alcohol or other drug abuse

VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS

PASSIVE:o Quiet, anxious & insecureo Tend to “normalize” and no longer are victims upon entering

adulthood, though they may have continued lower self-esteem and be more prone to depression

PROVOCATIVE:o Reactive, clumsy, impulsive, irritatingo Attempt to fight or answer back when attacked, but not

effectivelyo Often hyperactive, have difficulty concentrating and act in

ways that irritate others

ECISD Cyber bullying Policy (CQ Local)

Freedom from Bullying District Committee

COMMITTEE• Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District

Bully Gang and Drug Committee• The committee consists of School Administrators,

Educators, Students, Parents, Social Workers and Law Enforcement

• The goal of the committee is to develop recommendations and ideas to address bully gang and drugs in our schools and are forwarded to the Superintendent and School Board for consideration in keeping our schools safe

• Meet once a month throughout the school year

www.great-online.org

• Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) is an evidence-based and effective gang and violence prevention program built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. The Program is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership for children in the years immediately before the prime ages for introduction into gangs and delinquent behavior.

• G.R.E.A.T. Introduction• G.R.E.A.T. has developed partnerships with nationally recognized organizations, such as the Boys &

Girls Clubs of America, Families and Schools Together (FAST), and the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc. (PAL). These partnerships encourage positive relationships among the community, parents, schools, and the law enforcement community.

• The G.R.E.A.T. Program offers a continuum of components for students and their families that focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid using delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems. These components include a 13-lesson middle school curriculum, a 6-lesson elementary school curriculum, a summer program, and families training.

• The Regional Training Centers provide training to sworn/certified criminal justice professionals to teach the G.R.E.A.T. curricula to elementary and middle school students and to families throughout North America, including the United States, Canada, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Web Resources:• www.bullyinginfo.org - U.S. government website that helps you create,

maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs.• http://www.education.com/topic/school-bullying-teasing - This site

includes a list of peer-reviewed articles related to bullying.• http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/index.html - U.S. Department

of Health and Human Services.• http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourlife/yourlife_bullyroundup.html - Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention.

QUESTIONS?