Bullying

What is bullying?

The District prohibits bullying, including cyberbullying:

On school property;
At school-sponsored or school-related activities on or off school property; or
In any vehicle being used for transporting students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity.

Bullying may include physical conduct or verbal or written expression, including electronic expression, that was delivered to school property or to the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity, if the cyberbullying interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

Bullying is not tolerated by the District, and any student or parent of a student who believes that the student or another student has experienced bullying or that a student has engaged in bullying is encouraged to immediately report the incident. Retaliation against anyone involved in the reporting process is a violation of District policy and is prohibited.

Students or parents may report an alleged incident of bullying, orally or in writing, to a teacher, school counselor, principal, or other District employee. Students or parents may contact the District to obtain an Incident Report Form that may be used to submit the report. A student may report the incident anonymously.

Please note that after submission of the report to the District employee, the District will notify the parent of the alleged victim and the parent of the alleged bully. The District may assign the report to a campus administrator to follow up on the submitted report and any other important matters pertaining to the report. We encourage you to communicate with your designated campus administrator during this time.

More information about the District’s bullying policy can be found at [Policy FFI] or the campus main office.

Conflict vs. Mean vs. Bullying Behavior Chart

Peer Conflict	Mean Behavior	Bullying Behavior

Equal power There is a disagreement–both sides express their views Usually hangout together Equally upset Both interested in the outcome Able to work things out with adult help May include inappropriate physical and/or verbal behavior.	Not planned and usually spontaneous Aimed at any student nearby The aggressor may feel badly afterwards May include inappropriate physical and/or verbal behavior.	Imbalance of power Aggression is one sided There is no disagreement Goal is to hurt,harm or humiliate another On purpose No consideration of others feelings No attempt to resolve May include inappropriate physical and/or verbal behavior

Peer Conflict

Mean Behavior

Bullying Behavior

Equal power
There is a disagreement–both sides express their views
Usually hangout together
Equally upset
Both interested in the outcome
Able to work things out with adult help

May include inappropriate physical and/or verbal behavior.

Not planned and usually spontaneous
Aimed at any student nearby
The aggressor may feel badly afterwards

May include inappropriate physical and/or verbal behavior.

Imbalance of power
Aggression is one sided
There is no disagreement
Goal is to hurt,harm or humiliate another
On purpose
No consideration of others feelings
No attempt to resolve

May include inappropriate physical and/or verbal behavior

Laws and Policies

In CFISD, bullying policies can be found in FFI (LEGAL) and FFI (LOCAL). These policies explicitly outline reporting and investigating allegations of bullying.
In addition, bullying is addressed in the CFISD Student Handbook and in the CFISD Code of Conduct.

In CFISD, bullying policies can be found in FFI (LEGAL) and FFI (LOCAL). These policies explicitly outline reporting and investigating allegations of bullying.

In addition, bullying is addressed in the CFISD Student Handbook on the following pages:

1. HB-77 to HB-78 define bullying and outline procedures for reporting and investigating it, parent notification, counseling options, or other supportive measures that may be provided.

2. HB-107 to HB-110 provides another copy of the FFI (LOCAL) policy.

Finally, bullying is addressed in the CFISD Code of Conduct on the following pages:

CC-3 in the elementary and secondary safety pledges,
CC-5 regarding standards of conduct for students,
CC-6 regarding disciplinary authority of the school,
CC-14 regarding the prohibition of bullying,
CC-24 lists bullying as a Level III offense,
CC-41 specifies that some bullying violations may result in a DAEP placement or expulsion,
CC-44 specifies that a student receiving special education services may not be disciplined in a manner that results in a change in the student’s educational placement for conduct meeting the definition of bullying/cyberbullying until an ARD committee meeting reviews the conduct,
CC-47 lists bullying as one of the behaviors that could prompt a student’s formal removal from class,
CC-75 provides the definition of bullying in the glossary, and
CC-78 provides the cyberbullying definition.

How to Report Bullying

Tell a trusted adult— parent, school counselor, teacher, and/or school administrator.
Submit a bullying tip on the School Tipline – you may remain anonymous.
Complete and submit a written incident report to your assistant principal.

Parent/Student Resources

Stop Bullying - This site offers practical advice to students and parents about ways to respond to bullying at school.
- Bullying Prevention for Parents of Middle School - this link is in the StopBullying.gov website and is directly applicable for all ages
Texas School Safety Center - Reviews state laws and provides a bullying checklist with scenarios for application
ASCD: How We Treat One Another in School - A survey of middle school students' experiences with bullying shows that kids want the adults in school to pay attention and keep them safe.