1. Office of Special Populations Providence School Department Reviewing Bullying & Harassment Policies -Procedures Nuts and Bolts August 2012 Presented by: Lisa Vargas-Sinapi Andre Thibeault

2. Goals of this Presentation Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 2  Participants will gain a greater understanding of the Providence’s Guidelines and Procedures for the Implementation of the Bullying & Harassment Policy and Procedures.  Participants will review the revised process of reporting, investigating, and responding to complaints of these behaviors.  Review the new RIGL 16-21-34, the Rhode Island Statewide Bullying Policy and its expectations for implementation.

3. Bullying, Harassment, Dating/Sexual Violence Guidelines and Procedures for Students Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 3 o Folder Contents  Copy of power point presentation  Copy of the new proposed draft Bullying / Harassment Policy  Copy of the revised reporting form  Copy of the revised investigation form  Copy of the Respond, Investigate, Take Action RITA Checklist

4. Timeline August 10, 2010 School Board Approves Policy April 2011 Developed our Procedures Manual March 2011 Training DLT & Psychologist & Social Workers Train the Trainer Training for all principals, teachers, teacher assistants and staff June 2011 – January 2012 Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 4

5. Timeline March 2012 Training for SBEC & DLT Proper Investigation Techniques / Review School Based Data March 2012 Training DLT & Psychologist & Social Workers on Roll Out to Students April – Present 2012 Roll out to Students Parents & Community Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 5

6. Timeline September 2012  School Board to approve revised policy  Training for SRO & Detectives September 2012- January 2013 Develop a curriculum / resources to address sexual harassment behaviors Jan2013- May 2013 Creation of Website for Bullying/Harassment Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 6

7. Staff Roles and Responsibilities Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 7 District IX/ Equity Officer (DEO) – Andre Thibeault  Responsible at District Level for all reports of these behaviors;  Ensure all incidents are properly tracked, investigated, and completed appropriately and within required timeframe;  Compile District and school based data for purposes of reporting to Superintendent/School Board;  Developing prevention and training programs. School Based Equity Coordinator (SEC)  Assigned by the school administrator;  Receive and review all incidents complaints;  Ensure all complaints are appropriately investigated and completed within established timelines;  Ensure a safety plans is developed and implemented to protect targets. Send Andre Thibeault (DEO) the name of your School Based Equity Coordinator by September 30 th

8. Report, Investigate, Take Action (RITA) Report  Each member of school community is responsible for reporting any observations, knowledge or suspicion of identified behaviors Incident Complaint Reporting Form (ICRF) Investigate  School Based Equity Coordinator/Principal coordinates investigations INCIDENT INVESTIGATION FORM (IIF) Consequences/Supports and Interventions  Reasonable timely age-appropriate corrective action  Range from positive behavioral supports up to including suspension or exclusion Safety Plan Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 8

9. What has changed on the Reporting/Investigation Form Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 9 Place an X next to the statement(s) that you believe best describe what happened (choose all that apply) Means of Bullying/HarassmentHarassment Motivations Bullying  Cyber bullying/harassment  Race   Harassment  Verbal  Color  Threatening Behavior  Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity  Physical  Ethnicity/National Origin  Theft  Disability  Extortion  Religion  Sexual Violence  Sex/Gender (Sexual Harassment)  Dating Violence  Retaliation of any of the above behaviors  

10. RIGL 16-21-34 RI Statewide Bullying Policy http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/relea sed/pdf/DOE/6774.pdf http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/relea sed/pdf/DOE/6774.pdf http://www.thriveri.org/documents/RISafeSchoolsA ct_StatewideBullyingPolicy.pdf http://www.thriveri.org/documents/RISafeSchoolsA ct_StatewideBullyingPolicy.pdf Purpose: To ensure a consistent and unified statewide approach of bullying at school. Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 10

11. Summary of new RI Statewide Bullying Policy Applies to all schools in RI Clear policy guideline on oversight & responsibility  Principal is responsible for the implementation & oversight.  Part of School District strategic plan and school safety plan. Communication of information  Distributed annually to students, staff, school community  Included in codes of conduct, disciplinary policies, and student handbook  Prominently posted line District/School Website Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 11

12. Summary of new RI Statewide Bullying Policy Clear requirement and procedures for students, parents and school community to report bullying, retaliation, and anonymous reporting. Investigation/Response:  Prompt investigation of allegations.  Mandates immediate interventions/safety plan in serious situations. Social Networking  Students prohibited from accessing social networking sites except for educational/instructional purposes Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 12

13. Summary of new RI Statewide Bullying Policy Definitions Scope – portal/portal Reporting of incident School Climate All reports / investigation findings sent to District- wide Title 9/Equity Coordinator!!!!! Summary report of incidents, responses to Superintendent & School Board Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 13

14. Questions / Contact Information Lisa Vargas-Sinapi - Lisa.Vargas-Sinapi@ppsd.orgLisa.Vargas-Sinapi@ppsd.org 456-9137 (Ext. 3001) Office of Special Education Andre Thibeault – Director of Operations / District IX/Equity Officer Andre.Thibeault@ppsd.org “You must be the change You want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi Please do your part to make your school the safe and caring place that it should be! Office of Special Populations Providence School Department 14