Roselle Public Schools Leonard V.

Moore Middle School

The “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act”Summary

Effective 2011-2013

School Safety TeamPrincipal or designee

Anti-bullying Specialist

Teacher

Parent of a Student

Other members determined by Principal

Brief History2002 NJ enacted its public school anti-bullying

statute

2007 amended to include cyber-bullying

2008 required each school district to post its anti-bullying policy on its website and annually distribute it to parents

HIB DefinitionHarassment, intimidation and bullying means any gesture,

any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored event, on a school bus, or off school grounds that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school orb the rights of other students and that a reasonable person should know, under circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his person or damage to his property.

Definition (continued)Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any

student or group of students, disruption in or interference with, the orderly operation of school or creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

Professional Development

Each public school teaching staff member to complete at least two (2) hours of instruction in suicide prevention.

This instruction must be provided by a licensed health care professional with training and experience in mental health issues.

The instruction in suicide prevention shall include information on the relationship between the risk of suicide and incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

To include information on reducing the risk of suicide in students who are members of communities identified as having members at high risk.

Training for Board Members within one (1)

year after:

Newly elected

Newly appointed

Re-election

Re-Appointment

Provided by NJSBA

Reporting cases of HIB1. Parent Report due 5 days after board meeting

2. Results to Board of Education (next meeting)

3. Results to Superintendent within 2 days of completion of investigation

4. Principal notifies School Anti-Bullying Specialist to start Investigation (10 days to complete)

5. Employee completes written report within 2 days

6. Principal notifies parents of all involved

7. Employee reports to Principal verbally in 1 day

Appeal Process1. May file with the Division of Civil Rights Within

180 days.

2. May be appealed to Commission of Education within 90 days.

3. The board shall issue a decision in writing to affirm, reject or modify the superintendent’s decision.

4. The hearing shall be held within 10 days of the request. A parent may request a hearing of the board after receiving report.

Superintendent’s Report to Public

Superintendent must report out to public 2 times a year Sept-Jan and Jan-June.

Must report out all acts of violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation and bullying which occurred during reporting period.

Superintendent’s Report to Include:

# of reports

Status of investigation

Type and nature of bullying: gesture, written, verbal physical act, electronic communication

Names of Investigators

Type and nature of any discipline imposed on any student

Superintendent’s Report

Training conducted

Programs implemented to reduce harassment, intimidation and bullying

Employees shall have MONTHLY ACCESS to # of all reported acts of violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation and bullying

School Data School report card: to

include data identifying the number and nature of all reports of harassment, intimidation and bullying

Verification of the reports on violence, vandalism and harassment, intimidation and bullying shall be part of the State’s monitoring of the school district

Report all HIB data to NJDOE by school and district

Two times a year

Each school shall receive a grade

The District shall receive a grade by averaging the grades of all schools

The grades shall be posted on each school’s website and district website

Also posted yearly on NJDOE website

PublicityA link to the policy must be prominently posted

on home page of school district’s website

Contact information for the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator must be listed on the home page of the school district’s website and on the home page of each school website

Contact information for District Anti-Bullying Coordinator and the School Anti-Bullying Specialist must be maintained on NJDOE website

Disciplinary Action

A school Administrator who receives a report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying from a district employee, and fails to initiate or conduct an investigation, or who should have known of an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and fails to take sufficient action to minimize or eliminate the harassment, intimidation, or bullying, may be subject to disciplinary action.

Responsibilities of District Anti-Bullying

CoordinatorResponsible for coordinating and strengthening

the school district’s policies

Collaborate with the School Anti-Bullying Specialists

Provide data in collaboration with Superintendent to the NJDOE

Meet with School Anti-Bullying Specialists 2 times a year to strengthen procedures and policies to prevent, identify and address HIB

School Anti-Bullying Specialist

Principal appoints

When a school counselor, or school psychologist is currently employed in a school, the principal shall appoint that individual

May appoint other school personnel if not employed in the school

School Anti-Bullying Specialist Duties

Chair school safety team

Lead investigations

Act as the primary school official

Responsible for prevention, identification, and addressing

Responsibilities of the School Safety Team

Receive complaints that have been report to Principal

Receive reports after investigation

Identify and address patterns

Review and strengthen School climate and policies

Educate the community

Participate in training/PD

Collaborate with District Anti-Bullying Coordinator

N.J.D.O.E.’s Participation

Model Policy to be developed by Commissioner of Education 90 days after effective act

Workshops for Coordinators and Specialists

Online tutorial on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

Bullying Prevention Fund-Grants

First Monday in October of each year is designated as “Week of Respect” in the State of New Jersey