©2011 Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley Implementation of the New Bullying...

©2011 Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley

Implementation of the New Bullying Prevention Law

A presentation by

the Office of Massachusetts

Attorney General Martha Coakley

Massachusetts School Library Association

March 14, 2011

An Act Relative to Bullying in SchoolsChapter 92 of the Acts of 2010


Bullying Prevention Commission

• Attorney General Martha Coakley

• District Attorney David Capeless

• Sheriff Michael Bellotti

• Michael Long, Esq.

• Chief Mary Lyons

• Ms. Laura Salomons

• Mr. Steve Clem


Charge of the Commission

“The review of the General Laws to determine if they need to be amended in order to address bullying and cyber-bullying and to investigate parental responsibility and liability for bullying and cyber-bullying.”


The New Law

• Defines bullying and cyberbullying• Requires schools to have a comprehensive

bullying prevention plan • Requires school staff to notify principal of

incidents • Requires notifications to parents and

sometimes to law enforcement• Provisions of the law may extend to off campus

conduct (if it creates a hostile environment at school for the student being targeted)


Bullying Defined• Repeated conduct• Physical or emotional harm or damage to

victim’s property• Reasonable fear of physical harm or

damage to property• Hostile environment at school for victim• Infringes on the student’s rights• Materially and substantially disrupts the

education process or the orderly operation of a school


District Prevention and Intervention Plan

• Statement prohibiting bullying/ cyberbullying• Clear procedures for reporting bullying, including

provisions for anonymous reports, handling false reports, plan to address retaliation

• Procedures for restoring victim’s sense of safety• Procedures for notifying parent/guardian• Provisions for counseling (or referrals to

counseling)


District Prevention and Intervention Plan

• Professional Development

• Parent Component

• Information on Plan for Students

• Technology Policy


Cyber-Bullying

• Use of technology or any electronic communication, including anything transmitted by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including email, internet communications, instant messages, or fax


Off-Campus Conduct

Extends beyond school grounds if it:

• Creates a hostile environment at school for victim or

• Materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school


Parents Need to Tell Their Children

• The Internet counts

• Adults can see what you post online.

• Think before you post online.

• Posing as someone else could result in criminal charges.

• What to do if someone bullies or harasses them online.


Staff must notify principal

• Of any instance of bullying / retaliation

• Applies to all members of staff


Principal Investigates

• Upon receipt of such a report, the school principal or a designee shall promptly conduct an investigation


Call home

1 recess

Push Shove

Harass Punch

Kick

Warning

Behavior 1st time 2nd time 3rd time

Teasing (Name-

calling, insults, etc.)

Call home

3 recess

Call home

1 recess

Call home

3 recess

Call home

5 recess

Call home

3 recess

Call home

5 recess

I.S.S. or classes

only

Sample Discipline Rubric

Elementary School

Stan Davis’ “Think About It” Form

• What did you do?• What was wrong with this behavior?• Who did you hurt? How did you know you

hurt them?• What made you do this? What problem

were you trying to solve?• Next time you're feeling this way, how can

you act differently without hurting someone?


Requires Reporting to Local Law Enforcement

• When a crime “may have been” committed

• Local law enforcement has expertise

• Continued reliance on the existing relationships with law enforcement


Principal must notify parents or guardians

• Of Victim

• Of Perpetrator

• Notify parent or guardian of action taken (consistent with state and federal law)


Safeguards When Notifying Parents

• LGBT children are at disproportionately higher risk of being bullied

• Actual or perceived differences

• DESE offers guidance http://www.doe.mass.edu/bullying/PNguidance.html


Evidence-Based Curricula

• Aggressors, Victims, and Bystanders• Al's Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices• Bullying Prevention Program (Olweus)• Bully Proofing Series• Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health

Education• PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies)• Peacebuilders• Steps to Respect


Professional Development

• Staff-based interventions (effective response to incidents)

• Classroom-based interventions

• Empowering youth


Additional Laws

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Prohibits discrimination/harassment on the basis of race, color and national origin.

• Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1982Prohibits discrimination/harassment on the basis of gender.

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II Americans With Disabilities ActProhibits discrimination/harassment based on disability.


Attorney General’s Office

Bullying Prevention Information

www.mass.gov/ago/bullying

Civil Rights Division

www.mass.gov/ago

617-727-2200


http://www.mass.gov/ago/bullying

http://www.mass.gov/ago

What’s Next?

• Continue to discus this today – and beyond (via the Wiki)

• Check out other district’s plans

• Share resources, solutions!

• Take a moment to acknowledge the impact one caring adult can have in a child’s life.


©2011 Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley Implementation of the New Bullying...

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