Below is the model bullying policy made available by the North Dakota State Department of Education for school districts within North Dakota 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 8, 2019
URL of Source: https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t15-1c19.pdf
This state does not appear to have a model policy, but state statute does require certain policy provisions. The statutory requirements are outlined below.
15.1-19-18. Bullying – Prohibition by policy.
- Each school district shall adopt a policy providing that while at a public school, on school district premises, in a district owned or leased school bus or school vehicle, or at any public school or school district sanctioned or sponsored activity or event, a student may not:
- Engage in bullying; or
- Engage in reprisal or retaliation against:
(1) A victim of bullying;
(2) An individual who witnesses an alleged act of bullying;
(3) An individual who reports an alleged act of bullying; or
(4) An individual who provides information about an alleged act of bullying.
- The policy required by this section must:
- Include a definition of bullying that at least encompasses the conduct described in section 15.1-19-17;
- Establish procedures for reporting and documenting alleged acts of bullying, reprisal, or retaliation, and include procedures for anonymous reporting of such acts;
- Establish procedures, including timelines, for school district personnel to follow in investigating reports of alleged bullying, reprisal, or retaliation;
- Establish a schedule for the retention of any documents generated while investigating reports of alleged bullying, reprisal, or retaliation;
- Set forth the disciplinary measures applicable to an individual who engaged in bullying or who engaged in reprisal or retaliation, as set forth in subsection 1;
- Require the notification of law enforcement personnel if school district personnel have a reasonable suspicion that a crime might have occurred on or off school district property;
- Establish strategies to protect a victim of bullying, reprisal, or retaliation; and
- Establish disciplinary measures to be imposed upon an individual who makes a false accusation, report, or complaint pertaining to bullying, reprisal, or retaliation.
- In developing the bullying policy required by this section, a school district shall involve parents, school district employees, volunteers, students, school district administrators, law enforcement personnel, domestic violence sexual assault organizations as defined by subsection 3 of section 14-07.1-01, and community representatives.
- Upon completion of the policy required by this section, a school district shall:
- Ensure that the policy is explained to and discussed with its students;
- File a copy of the policy with the superintendent of public instruction; and
- Make the policy available in student and personnel handbooks.
- Each school district shall review and revise its policy as it determines necessary and shall file a copy of the revised policy with the superintendent of public instruction.
15.1-19-19. Professional development activities.
- 6. 15.1-19-20. Bullying prevention programs. Each school district shall provide bullying prevention programs to all students from kindergarten through grade twelve.
