The “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act” Summary Effective Glen Ridge Public Schools

Brief History 2002 NJ enacted its public school anti-bullying statute 2002 NJ enacted its public school anti-bullying statute 2007 amended to include cyber bullying 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 2008 required each school district to post its anti-bullying policy on its website and annually distribute it to parents

HIB Definition Harassment, 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 of the rights of other students and that a reasonable person should know, under the 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. Harassment, 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 of the rights of other students and that a reasonable person should know, under the 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. 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 2 hours of instruction in suicide prevention. Each public school teaching staff member to complete at least 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. This instruction must be provided by a licensed health care professional with training and experience in mental health issues.

Professional Development (continued) The instruction in suicide prevention shall include information on the relationship between the risk of suicide and incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying. 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. 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 year after: Newly elected Newly elected Newly appointed Newly appointed Re-election Re-election Re-Appointment Re-Appointment Provided by NJSBA Provided by NJSBA

Reporting cases of HIB Parent Report due 5 days after board meeting Results to Board of Education (next meeting) Results to Superintendent within 2 days of completion of investigation Principal notifies School Anti-Bullying Specialist to start Investigation (10 days to complete) Employee completes written report within 2 days Principal notifies parents of all involved ^ Employee reports to Principal verbally in 1 day ^

Appeal Process May file with the Division of Civil Rights Within 180 days May be appealed to Commissioner of Education within 90 days The board shall issue a decision in writing to affirm, reject or modify the superintendent’s decision 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. 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. Must report out all acts of violence, vandalism harassment, Intimidation and Bullying which occurred during reporting period.

Superintendent’s report to include: # of reports # of reports Status of investigation Status of investigation Type and nature of bullying: gesture, written, verbal physical act, electronic communication Type and nature of bullying: gesture, written, verbal physical act, electronic communication Names of Investigators Names of Investigators Type and nature of any discipline imposed on any student Type and nature of any discipline imposed on any student

Superintendent’s report Training conducted Training conducted Programs implemented to reduce harassment, intimidation and bullying 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. 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 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. 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 Report all HIB data to NJDOE by school and district Two times a year Two times a year Each school shall receive a grade Each school shall receive a grade The District shall receive a grade by averaging the grades of all schools 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. The grades shall be posted on each school’s website and district website. Also posted yearly on NJDOE website Also posted yearly on NJDOE website

Publicity A link to the policy must be prominently posted on home page of school district’s website A 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 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 A-B Coordinator and the School Anti- bullying Specialist must be maintained on NJDOE website. Contact information for District A-B 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 Coordinator Responsible for coordinating and strengthening the school district’s policies Responsible for coordinating and strengthening the school district’s policies Collaborate with the School Anti- Bullying Specialists Collaborate with the School Anti- Bullying Specialists Provide data in collaboration with Superintendent to the NJDOE 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. 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 Principal Appoints When a school counselor, or school psychologist is currently employed in a school the principal shall appoint that individual 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. May appoint other school personnel if not employed in the school.

School Anti-Bullying Specialist Duties Chair school safety team Chair school safety team Lead investigations Lead investigations Act as the primary school official responsible for prevention, identification and addressing Act as the primary school official responsible for prevention, identification and addressing

School Safety Team Principal or designee Principal or designee Anti-bullying Specialist Anti-bullying Specialist Teacher Teacher Parent of a student Parent of a student Others members determined by Principal Others members determined by Principal

Responsibilities of the School Safety Team Receive complaints that have been reported to Principal Receive complaints that have been reported to Principal Receive reports after investigation Receive reports after investigation Identify and address patterns Identify and address patterns Review and strengthen School climate and policies Review and strengthen School climate and policies Educate the community Educate the community Participate in training/PD Participate in training/PD Collaborate with District Anti- Bullying Coordinator 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.