Montgomery County Public Schools
Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation
Board of Education of Montgomery
County Policy JHF: Bullying,
Harassment, or Intimidation
MCPS Regulation JHF-RA: Bullying,
Harassment, or Intimidation
1
Creating an environment
that is free of bullying,
harassment, or
intimidation so that
schools are safe places in
which to learn
2
Safe Schools promote
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
3
4
Bullying
Safe Places
5
Bullies may exhibit:
 Lack of empathy for others and pro-violent
attitudes
 Anger issues and impulsivity
 A low tolerance for frustration
Bullies may have:
 Families who handle conflicts with fighting,
criticism, and name-calling
 Limited parental supervision and
involvement
 Parents who have inconsistent, harsh, or
extremely permissive discipline styles
6
Being Bullied May Cause
Academic Problems:
O School avoidance
O Truancy
O Higher drop-out
rate
O Lower grades and
trouble learning
O Low self-esteem
O Low self-confidence
Health Problems:
O Loss of appetite
O Stomach aches
O Vomiting
O Headaches
O Loss of sleep
O Nervousness
O Anxiety
O Depression
O Loneliness
7
8
Trend data on bullying reports in MCPS
Number of Bullying Reports
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
9
It should be noted that in 2009, MCPS implemented the Bullying, Harassment, or Intimation policy and regulation , making
the reporting forms available to the public. This might explain the sharp increase in the number of reported incidences.
Age of MCPS Student Victims
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Age
Age 5
birth to
4
Age 6
Age 7
Age 8
Age 9 Age 10 Age 11 Age 12 Age 13 Age 14 Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18 Age 19
and
10
older
Age of Alleged MCPS Student Offenders
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Age Age 5
birth to
4
Age 6
Age 7
Age 8 Age 9 Age 10 Age 11 Age 12 Age 13 Age 14 Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18 Age 19
and
older
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Start
Process
Within 2
days
Within 24
hours
Within
2 Weeks
• MCPS Form 230-35, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form, may be completed
by a student, parent/guardian, close adult relative, or staff member. The form should be
submitted to the school principal.
•The school principal/designee investigates the incident and documents the findings by completing
MCPS Form 230-36. These forms are maintained in a confidential file in the school office. They are not
maintained in a student’s cumulative file.
•The school principal and/or designee will contact the parents of all students involved in the incident of
bullying , harassment, or intimidation within 24 hours of completing the investigation. The school will
take immediate and appropriate steps to discipline the offender ; support the student who was bullied;
and protect the student from reprisals prevent recurrence.
•Designated school staff will conduct separate conferences with the student who was bullied and the
student who bullied within two weeks after the investigation to verify the bullying, harassment, or
intimidation has ceased
•Using both MCPS Form 230-35 and Form 230-36, school staff complete an entry/report in the OASIS
bullying module for the victim only. A confidential file of the bullying reports are kept in the school’s
Document
in OASIS administrative office.
•Another follow-up conference or conversation will be held with the student who was bullied and the
student who bullied four weeks after the investigation to verify that the bullying, harassment, or
Four weeks intimidation has ceased
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The confidential file does not
articulate with any students.
MCPS Form
230-35
Parents/guardians,
students, and staff
members can complete
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this form
What would you do?
O Click on one of the post-it notes to continue
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High School
Maria texted her girlfriend, Latisha, and described her dreams
about Jose asking her to go to the prom. Latisha then sends out
a text to all her girlfriends describing how Maria feels about
Jose. It ends up on Facebook. Jose’s girlfriend gets upset and
places a picture of Maria’s head on a nude woman’s body and
calls her a slut. What should Maria do? What should the school
do?
Turn to an elbow partner
15 and
discuss what you would do!
Middle School
Sam’s father calls the counselor at his son’s middle
school and says that he saw Sam’s Facebook page.
Sam is being taunted by some other students who say
that Sam is gay and likes to hang out with boys rather
than girls. He is being cyber-bullied. What actions should
be taken?
Turn to an elbow partner
16 and
discuss what you would do!
Elementary School
Maria comes in after recess and tells you that her friend
Sophia tripped her. She tells you that this is happening
daily. Sophia calls Maria “dummy”, “retard”, and
encourages others to exclude her from soccer games.
What should the school do?
Turn to an elbow partner
17 and
discuss what you would do!
What can you do?
Proactively increase SEL competencies.
Intervene
Stop the
bullying
behavior
when it
occurs and
ensure
that all
involved
are safe
Gather
info
Speak
privately to
the
students,
including
bystanders
When necessary do the following…
Set
Expectations
Document
Name the
bullying
behavior
and refer
to the
school
rules
Encourage
the
students
who are
bullied to
complete a
report of
bullying.
Set
Consequences
Report to
admin
Impose
appropriate,
immediate
remedial
actions or
consequences;
report!
Reinforce
a
supportive
climate
Support the
victim;
Encourage
and praise
bystanders/
witnesses
who report
acts of
bullying
18
What are your school’s current
prevention and intervention
strategies?
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Prevention & Intervention
O Foster positive relationships and interactions
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
with students
Supervise in all areas of the school building
Provide prompt, fair, and consistent
enforcement of bullying policies
Teach students strategies for dealing with peer
issues, including bullying
Model desired attitudes and behaviors
Implement classroom guidance lessons and
small group counseling
Consider peer tutoring and mentoring activities
Establish culture of acceptance
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Working together, we can
create and maintain a school
environment free from
bullying and where every
student feels comfortable,
supported, and safe!
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Resources
O Board of Education Policy JHF, Bullying,
Harassment, or Intimidation
O MCPS Regulation JHF-RA, Bullying,
Harassment, or Intimidation
O Community Resources and Internet Sites
Regarding Bullying
O Problem Solving for Student Success
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Elementary Resources
O Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports
(PBIS)
O Stop Bullying Now
O No Putdowns
O Bullyproofing Your School
O Second Step
O Character Counts
O Stop Picking on Me
O Stand Up Against Bullies
Secondary Resources
O Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports
(PBIS)
O Stop Bullying Now
O Student Assistance
Program
O It’s All About Respect
O Bullyproofing Your School
O Second Step
O Character Counts
O The Bully, The Bullied, and
Beyond
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Disseminating Bullying
Reporting Information
•
Announcements and meetings prior to the
opening of school and during the first week of
school
•
Newsletters and Connect-ED messages
•
PTA Meetings
•
Reporting Form (MCPS Form 230-35) made
available in multiple school locations,
including the administrative office,
counselor’s office, media center, health room
and as a link on the school website.
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Web Resources
• www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov
• www.stopbullyingnow.com
• www.bullying.org
• www.safeyouth.com
• www.cyberbullying.com
• www.safeyouth.org
• www.inthemix.org/bullying
• www.kidshealth.org
• www.pta.org/bullying.asp
• www.stopbullyingworld.com
• http://www.netsmartzkids.org/indexFL.htm
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Books for Educators
O Bullying in Schools, P.Langdon
O How to Handle a Bully, L. Mintle
O Bullying, Implications for the Classroom,
C. Sanders
O The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander,
B. Coloroso
O The Bully Free Classroom, A. Beane
O And Words Can Hurt Forever, J. Garbarino
and E. deLara
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