Newark Public Schools Highlights of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy

1. Newark Public SchoolsHighlights ofHarassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy

2. NJDOE Mandatorynew policy File Code: 5131.1

3. Significant Recent Research Since the Original 2002 NJ Anti-Bully Law 2009 U.S. Departments of Justice an Education Study: • 32% of the students ages 12 through 18 were bullied in the previous year. • 25% of reporting schools indicated bullying was a daily or weekly problem. Reasons for the Law

4. 2009 “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance” US Center for Disease Prevention and Control: • Percentage of students bullied in NJ is 1% higher than the national median. Reasons for the Law (cont.)

5. Research clearly indicates bullying is learned behavior and detrimental to the academic, physical, social and emotional development of all involved – bullies, targets and the bystanders who witness it…A wave of recent bullying incidents with tragic outcomes has shed a renewed light on the issue. The advent of technology allowing for impulsive, anonymous and rapid communication, has expanded the opportunities for bullying to a degree that necessitates more innovative and immediate responses than ever before. Source: DuPage County Anti-Bullying Task Force Model Bullying Policy (2011). Bullying: Learned Behavior

6. A COMPREHENSIVE HIB PROGRAM: 5 COMPONENTS Putting ALL the Pieces Together

7. Prohibition of HIB The District will not tolerate acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

8. Expectation The District expects all students to treat each other with civility and respect.

9. District Curriculum The Pillars of Character Education are essential components of the district curriculum to model appropriate behavior.

10. Code of Conduct School responses are aligned to the approved Code of Conduct in the Newark Public School’s Discipline Plan and Policy.

11. Student Code of Conduct Levels I and II

12. Level III Student Code of Conduct - Continued

13. Level IV Student Code of Conduct - Continued

14. Admonishment • Temporary removal from the classroom • Deprivation of privileges • Referral to disciplinarian • In-school suspension during the school week or the weekend; not to exceed four days – Level 3 • Out-of-school suspension; not to exceed four days – Level 4 • Cyberstalking – Level 4 • Legal action; and – Level 4 • Expulsion – Level 4 Levels of Consequences in Code of Conduct

15. Definition “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” is defined as 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 either…

16. Definition (con’t) by any actual or perceived characteristics, 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 distinguished characteristic, that takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus, or off school grounds.”

17. Definition (con’t) Cyberbullying is an “electronic com-munication.” It is communication that is transmitted by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to a telephone, cellular phone or computer.

18. Any incident reported to the school, must be an investigated if it substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school and the rights of the students. Off School Grounds

19. Conflict HIB • “Mutually” competitive or opposing action or engagement. • Includes disagreements, arguments and fights. • A normal part of growing up and of life • HIB is one-sided • One or more students are victims of one of more person’s aggression, as it applies to the HIB definition. • The intent is to physically or emotionally hurt someone. Difference between Conflict and HIB

20. The following information must be posted on the district’s Website for the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator. • Name, school phone number, school address and school email address. • The following information must be posted on the school’s Website for both the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator and School Anti-Bullying Specialist. • Name, school phone number, school address and school email address Contact Information

21. Reporting The Principal and/or his designee shall be responsible for receiving complaints alleging violations of this policy.

22. Reporting All student incidents for Level 1, 2, 3 and Level 4 should be recorded within 24 hours on the Vandalism and Violence Report forms and faxed to the Regional Superintendent and the Office of Academic Services.Incidents for Level 3 and Level 4 must be recorded in PowerSchool.

23. Procedure All acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying that are reported in writing to the school principal should be investigated within two school days of when the school employee or contracted service provider witnessed or received reliable information that a student had been subjected to harassment, intimidation, or bullying. Complaint form may be utilized for this purpose (Disciplinary Plan Policy) faxed to the Regional Superintendent and the Office of Academic Services. Staff Incident Report faxed to Labor Relations and Affirmative Action Offices.

24. The chief school administrator appointed a Anti-Bullying Coordinator-Mrs. Delores Lemons-Gresham/321/973-733-6164 • Be responsible for coordinating and strengthening the school district’s policies to prevent, identify and address harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students • Collaborate with school anti-bullying specialists in the district, the board of education, and the chief school administrator to prevent, identify, and respond to harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students in the district • Provide data, in collaboration with the chief school administrator, to the Department of Education regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying incidents • Provide mandatory training District Anti-Bullying Coordinator

25. School Anti-Bullying Specialist The principal in each school shall appoint a School Anti-Bullying Sspecialist. Responsibilities: • Chair the school safety team; sub-committee of the School Leadership Council. • Lead the investigation and resolve all incidents of harassments, intimidation, and bullying in the school; utilize Incident Tracking form. • Act as the primary school official responsible for preventing, identifying, and addressing incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in the schools.

26. School Safety Team School Leadership Council Sub-Committee goal The District shall form a School Safety Sub Committee in each school to develop, foster, and maintain a positive school climate by focusing on the on-going, systemic process and practices in the school and to address school climate issues inclusive of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

27. School Safety Team Membership Committee shall consist of principal, administrator, designee teacher, school anti-bullying specialist, parent of student in the school. Other members determined by principal (only of confidentiality not compromised).

28. School Safety Team Responsibilities The School Safety Team shall meet at least two times per school year.The School Safety Team along with principal shall be responsible for providing Positive Behavior Supports to enhance school climate.

29. Additional Responsibilities • Receive any complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of students that have been reported to the principal; • Receive copies of any report prepared after an investigation of an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying; • Identify and address pattern of harassment, intimidation, bullying of students in the school; • Review and strengthen school climate to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, bullying of students; The School Safety Team shall:

30. Responsibilities (con’t) • Ensure school enforces positive behavior supports to prevent incidents; • Educate the community, including students, teachers, administrative staff, and parents, to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, or bullying of students; • Participate in the training required pursuant to the provisions of (n.j.s.a. 18a:37-13 et seq) and other training which the principal or the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator may request. • Collaborate with the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator in the collection of district-wide data and in the development of district policies to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, or bullying of students.

31. Principal shall be responsible for promptly answering investigations committed on school grounds, at school activities, on school buses, as well as OFF school grounds.

32. Investigation The investigation shall be initiated by the principal or the principal's designee within one school day of the report of the incident and shall be conducted by a school anti-bullying specialist.The investigation shall be completed as soon as possible, but not later than ten school days from the date of the written report of the incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.The results of the investigation shall be reported to the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator within two school days of the completion of the investigation on the Violence and Vandalism Report.

33. Week of RespectIn the state of New Jersey, thefirst Monday in October of each year is designated as a “Week of Respect.”