Louisiana (LA) Model Bullying Policy

Below is the model bullying policy made available by the Louisiana State Department of Education for school districts within Louisiana to use when crafting their own bullying and cyberbullying policies. Each state’s policies vary when it comes to how they: define bullying, harassment, threats, intimidation, and violence; expect reporting and investigating to be carried out, specify response strategies, define penalties, and prescribe certain types of prevention programs and practices. We recommend that you review and consider updating your own bullying policy on an annual basis with input from educators, administrators, counselors, mental health professionals, parents, and students themselves. That will optimize the likelihood that the policy you implement achieves its goals. Last Updated: August 1, 2019 URL of Source: https://www.louisianabelieves.com/schools/public-schools/bullying The School District believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. All schools within the district have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance among students, staff, and volunteers. Behavior that infringes on the safety of any student will not be tolerated. A student shall not bully or intimidate any student through words or actions. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to direct physical contact, verbal assaults, the use of electronic methods, and social isolation and/or manipulation. The school district policy prohibiting bullying is included in the student code of conduct and includes but is not limited to the following:

Any student who engages in bullying will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or
School staff and/or administrators will promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential
If the complainant student or parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached after consulting the school principal, the student or the parent of the student should contact the local superintendent or his or her
The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint

All students and/or staff shall immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation to the school principal or designee. School staff members are expected to immediately intervene when they see a bullying incident occur. Each complaint of bullying shall be promptly investigated. This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling on a school bus to and from school, or a school-sponsored activity, and during a school-sponsored activity. Bullying and intimidation will not be tolerated. Disciplinary action will be taken following each confirmed incident of bullying. Disciplinary action after the first incident of bullying may include but is not limited to the following:

Loss of a privilege
Reassignment of seats in the classroom, cafeteria or school bus
Reassignment of classes
Detention
In-school suspension
Out-of-school suspension
Expulsion
Assignment to an alternative school

If necessary, counseling and other interventions should also be provided to address the social-emotional, behavioral, and academic needs of students who are victims of bullying and students who commit an offense of bullying. Students, parents/guardians and other school personnel may report incidents of bullying to an administrator, teacher, counselor or other staff member orally or in writing by using the appropriate form. The procedures for intervening in bullying behavior include but are not limited to the following:

All staff, students, and their parents will receive a copy of the policy prohibiting bullying at the beginning of the school year as part of the student code of
The school will keep a report of bullying and the results of an investigation
Staff are expected to immediately intervene when they see a bullying incident occur or upon receipt of any report of
Anyone who witnesses or experience bullying is encouraged to report the incident to a school official.

The following actions will be taken when bullying is reported:

1. Investigation

Upon receipt of any report of bullying, schools will direct an immediate investigation of the incident. The investigation will begin no later the next business day in which the school is in session after the report is received by the school official. The investigation will be completed no later than ten school days after the date the written report of the incident is submitted to the school official. The investigation shall include interviewing the alleged perpetrator(s) and victim(s), identified witnesses, teacher(s), and staff members separately. Physical evidence of the bullying incident will be reviewed, if available.

2. Notification

Parents or legal guardians of the victim and accused student will be notified of the investigative procedure. If the incident involves an injury or similar situation, appropriate medical attention should be provided and the parent/guardian should be notified immediately.

3. Discipline

Upon confirming that bullying has occurred, the accused student will be charged with bullying and will receive age-appropriate consequences which shall include, at minimum, disciplinary action or counseling.

4. Follow Up

Complainants will be promptly notified of the findings of the investigation and the remedial action taken.

5. Documentation

Written documentation containing the findings of the investigation, including input from the students’ parents or legal guardian, and the decision by the school official, will be prepared and placed in the school records of the victim and perpetrator.

Suggested Citation:

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (INSERT YEAR OF POLICY YOU ARE CITING HERE). Model Bullying Policy - Louisiana (LA). Cyberbullying Research Center. (Retrieved October 8, 2024). https://cyberbullying.org/bullying-policy/louisiana