Bullying Policy
Click this link for the Online Bully Report
AISD prohibits the bullying of a student. Policy also prohibits retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying.
BULLYING: DEFINITION
Bullying is defined in Section 37.0832 of the Education Code as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that satisfies the Applicability Requirements below, and that:
Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property;
Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
Infringes on the rights of the victim at school; and
Includes cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through the use of electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messages, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool.
Applicability Requirements:
bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;
bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately-owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and
cyberbullying that occurs 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.
Examples Of Bullying
Physical: hitting, punching, pushing, scratching, tripping, assault, physical demands for money, confinement, or hazing, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Verbal: name calling, teasing, putdowns, sarcasm, threats, taunting, or hazing, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Textual: (including by electronic devices or “Cyberbullying”) passing notes, writing on desks, SMS, MMS, email, chat rooms, website, or social networks, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Social: ignoring, excluding, mimicking, ostracism, spreading rumors, psychological defaming, dirty looks, intimidation, extortion, or theft of valued possessions or destruction of property, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Student Reporting Procedures
Any student who believes that he or she is being bullied or believes that another student is being bullied should immediately report the alleged acts to a teacher, counselor, principal, or other District employee. In addition, Aubrey ISD has anonymous reporting procedures on the District homepage.
Teachers, Counselors And School Staff Who Receive A Report Of Bullying From A Student
Listen to the student’s report, without judgment, and let the student know that you will report what you have heard to an administrator. Immediately contact a school administrator or counselor that you have received a report of bullying. Do not try to investigate the situation yourself. Complete a written statement for the administrator with your name and the date before the end of the day.
Procedures For Reporting Allegations Of Bullying
AISD prohibits the bullying of a student. Policy also prohibits retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying.
BULLYING: DEFINITION
Bullying is defined in Section 37.0832 of the Education Code as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that satisfies the Applicability Requirements below, and that:
Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property;
Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
Infringes on the rights of the victim at school; and
Includes cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through the use of electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messages, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool.
Applicability Requirements:
bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;
bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately-owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and
cyberbullying that occurs 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.
EXAMPLES OF BULLYING
Physical: hitting, punching, pushing, scratching, tripping, assault, physical demands for money, confinement, or hazing, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Verbal: name calling, teasing, putdowns, sarcasm, threats, taunting, or hazing, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Textual: (including by electronic devices or “Cyberbullying”) passing notes, writing on desks, SMS, MMS, email, chat rooms, website, or social networks, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
Social: ignoring, excluding, mimicking, ostracism, spreading rumors, psychological defaming, dirty looks, intimidation, extortion, or theft of valued possessions or destruction of property, if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a classroom or school.
STUDENT REPORTING PROCEDURES
Any student who believes that he or she is being bullied or believes that another student is being bullied should immediately report the alleged acts to a teacher, counselor, principal, or other District employee. In addition, Aubrey ISD has anonymous reporting procedures on the District homepage.
TEACHERS, COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL STAFF WHO RECEIVE A REPORT OF BULLYING FROM A STUDENT
Listen to the student’s report, without judgment, and let the student know that you will report what you have heard to an administrator. Immediately contact a school administrator or counselor that you have received a report of bullying. Do not try to investigate the situation yourself. Complete a written statement for the administrator with your name and the date before the end of the day.
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING ALLEGATIONS OF 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 Board Policy Manual - FFI — Student Welfare: Freedom from Bullying