School District of Philadelphia Bullying Policy

Resolved, that the School Reform Commission hereby adopts the attached primary Policy on Bullying and its prevention/intervention in order to ensure compliance with HB 1067 (PA), amending "Article XIII-A Safe Schools" in the Pennsylvania School Code of 1949, that requires each school entity to adopt a policy relating to bullying.

The School Reform Commission (SRC) is committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment for district students.  The SRC recognizes the negative impact that bullying has on student health, welfare, and safety and on the learning environment at school.  The SRC recognizes that bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious violence.  The SRC prohibits bullying by district students and personnel.

Definition:

Bullying is characterized by the following three (3) criteria:

• It is aggressive behavior or intentional harm doing.
• It is carried out repeatedly over time.
• It occurs within an interpersonal relationship where there is an imbalance of power (e.g. one person is physically larger, stronger, mentally quicker or socially more powerful).

Bullying, as defined in this policy, refers to direct or indirect action, which may include but is not limited to:

• Physical: hitting, kicking, pushing, shoving, getting another person to hurt someone;
• Verbal: racial slurs, name-calling, teasing, taunting, verbal sexual harassment, gossiping, spreading rumor; or
• Non-Verbal: threatening, obscene gestures, isolation, exclusion, stalking, cyber-bullying (bullying that occurs by use of electronic or communication devices through means of email, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, photo and video sharing, chat rooms, bash boards, or websites)

Bullying is the intentionally harmful (electronic, written, verbal, non-verbal, psychological or physical) act or series of acts that is directed at another person, in and/or outside of a school setting or using school property and is severe, persistent, or pervasive and has the effect of doing the following:

1. Substantial interference with a student’s education
2. Creation of a threatening environment
3. Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school

School setting means in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated school bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.  School property means the school computer or telephone.

Authority:

The SRC prohibits all forms of bullying.

The SRC encourages students who have been bullied or witnesses bullying to immediately report such incidents to the building administrator or manager of non-instructional support services.  If there is no response, the target of such acts is encouraged to report the incident to the regional office and the district’s Bullying Hotline (215-400-SAFE).

The SRC directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly and thoroughly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified.  Confidentiality of all parties shall be maintained, consistent with the district’s legal and investigative obligations.  No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying.

Delegation for Responsibility:

Each adult and student shall be responsible to respect the rights of others and to ensure an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and free from bullying.

The Superintendent (or designee) shall develop administrative regulations to implement this policy.

The Superintendent (or designee) shall ensure that this policy and administrative regulations are reviewed annually with staff, students, and parents.

The Superintendent (or designee), in cooperation with other appropriate administrators, shall review this policy every three (3) years and recommend necessary revisions to the SRC.

District administration shall annually provide the following information with the Safe School Report:

1. SRC’s Bullying Policy
2. Report of bullying incidents
3. Information on the development and implementation of any and all research-based bullying prevention and intervention programs.

Guideline:

The Student Code of Conduct, which shall contain this policy, shall be disseminated annually to students.

This policy shall be accessible in every classroom.  The policy shall be posted in a prominent location within each school building and on the district web site.

This policy will be reviewed with every district student within 90 days after the adoption by the SRC, and annually on the first day of school thereafter.

Education:

The district shall implement research-based bullying prevention and intervention programs.  Such programs shall provide training for district staff for effectively responding to, intervening in and reporting incidents of bullying. 

All district bullying prevention and intervention efforts shall be aligned with the framework of the research-based Blueprint Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and shall be approved by the district’s Bullying Prevention Coordinator in the Office of School Climate and Safety.

Consequences for Violations:

Upon receipt of a complaint of bullying, the principal or manager of non-instructional support services shall meet with the student(s) who is bullied and student(s) who bullies separately, starting with the student(s) who is bullied, and investigate the reported allegations.

If the allegations are confirmed, the principal or manager of non-instructional support services shall do the following:

1. Inform the student who bullies the results of the investigation
2. Review the definition of bullying and the district’s policy on bullying
3. Give the consequences for the behavior relative to the number of offenses and the severity of the behavior.
4. Notify the parents of the student(s) who bullies, including the actions of the student and the consequences.

A student who violates this policy shall be subject to the following disciplinary procedure:

• First Offense: Documented warning and parent notification
• Second Offense:  Parent conference, loss of school privileges, exclusion from school-sponsored activities, detention, or counseling within the school
• Third Offense:  Suspension or transfer to another classroom, school building or school bus

Depending on the severity of the incident, cases of bullying may immediately warrant the disciplinary actions of a third offense and may result in expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement officials.