Bullying in Schools, Parents Rights
Laws regarding bullying and special education in the United States primarily fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws provide protections and resources for students with disabilities, including those who may be vulnerable to bullying.
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act):
IDEA ensures that children with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and requires schools to provide individualized education programs (IEPs) for eligible students.
Bullying can interfere with a student's ability to receive a FAPE, and schools are obligated to address bullying that impacts a student's education.
IDEA also mandates that schools provide a safe and supportive environment for all students, including those with disabilities.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act):
ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including in educational settings.
Schools must ensure that students with disabilities are not subjected to harassment or bullying based on their disability, and they must take appropriate steps to prevent and address such behavior.
ADA requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities to ensure equal access to educational opportunities, which may include accommodations related to bullying prevention and intervention.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act:
Section 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding.
Schools must ensure that students with disabilities are not subjected to harassment or bullying, and they must provide appropriate supports and accommodations to address any bullying that occurs.
In addition to these federal laws, many states have their own anti-bullying laws and regulations that address bullying prevention and intervention in schools. These laws often require schools to have policies and procedures in place for addressing bullying, including specific provisions for protecting students with disabilities.
Overall, schools are responsible for creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, including those with disabilities, and they must take proactive measures to prevent bullying and address any instances that occur. Parents and guardians of students with disabilities can work with schools to ensure that their children's rights are protected and that appropriate supports are in place to address bullying if it occurs.
Bullying can have profound and long-lasting effects on both the victims and the perpetrators. Here are some of the potential long-term effects of bullying:
Mental Health Issues: Bullying victims are at increased risk of developing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These issues can persist into adulthood and may require professional intervention to address.
Physical Health Problems: Chronic stress resulting from bullying can manifest in physical health problems such as headaches, stomachaches, and sleep disturbances. In some cases, these physical symptoms can persist well into adulthood.
Social Difficulties: Victims of bullying may struggle with forming and maintaining healthy relationships. They may have difficulty trusting others and may withdraw socially to avoid further hurt or rejection.
Academic Challenges: Bullying can significantly impact a victim's academic performance. It may lead to decreased concentration, absenteeism, and overall disengagement from school, which can have long-term consequences for educational and career opportunities.
Substance Abuse: Some individuals who experience bullying may turn to substance abuse as a way to cope with the emotional pain and stress. This can lead to long-term addiction issues and further exacerbate existing mental health problems.
Behavioral Issues: Both victims and perpetrators of bullying may exhibit behavioral problems, such as aggression, defiance, or antisocial behavior. Without intervention, these behaviors can persist and escalate over time.
Impact on Future Relationships and Career: The effects of bullying can extend well into adulthood, affecting one's ability to form healthy relationships and succeed in the workplace. Victims may struggle with assertiveness, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills, which can hinder their personal and professional growth.
Suicide Risk: In the most severe cases, bullying can contribute to suicidal ideation and attempts. Victims may feel hopeless and isolated, believing that their situation will never improve. It is crucial to take any signs of suicidal behavior seriously and seek immediate help.
It's important to recognize that the long-term effects of bullying can vary greatly from person to person and depend on various factors, including the severity and duration of the bullying, the individual's coping mechanisms, and the level of support they receive. Early intervention and support systems can significantly mitigate the long-term impact of bullying on individuals and communities.
In Massachusetts we have
603 CMR 49.00
Notification of Bullying or Retaliation Regulations
Section:
49.01: Scope and Purpose
49.02: Definitions and Terms
49.03: Bullying and Retaliation Prohibited
49.04: Notice to Parents
49.05: Notice to Law Enforcement Agency
49.06: Confidentiality of Records
Background:
Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010, An Act Relative to Bullying in Schools, was signed into law on May 3, 2010 and took effect immediately. The law requires each school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private special education day or residential school, and collaborative school to develop and implement a plan to address bullying prevention and intervention. The statute directs the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to promulgate regulations addressing a principal's duties under one of the ten required elements of the bullying prevention and intervention plan, namely, notification to parents or guardians of the target and the aggressor of bullying or retaliation and the action taken to prevent further bullying, and notification to law enforcement of bullying or retaliation, when the aggressor's conduct may result in criminal charges. The law further provides that the regulations must be promulgated by September 30, 2010.
Most Recently Amended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: October 25, 2022
49.01: Scope and Purpose
603 CMR 49.00 governs the requirements related to the duty of the principal or leader of a public school, approved private day or residential school, collaborative school, or charter school to notify the parents or guardians of a target and an aggressor (when the aggressor is a student) when there is an incident of bullying or retaliation, and to notify the local law enforcement agency when criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor. 603 CMR 49.00 also addresses confidentiality of student record information related to notification of bullying and retaliation.
49.02: Definitions and Terms
Aggressor means perpetrator of bullying or retaliation as defined in M.G.L. c. 71, §37O.
Approved Private Day or Residential School means a school that accepts, through agreement with a school committee, a student requiring special education pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71B, §10 and 603 CMR 28.09: Approval of Public and Private Day and Residential Special Education School Programs.
Bullying, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, §37O, means the repeated use by one or more students or by a member of a school staff including, but not limited to, an educator, administrator, school nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian, bus driver, athletic coach, advisor to an extracurricular activity or paraprofessional of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that:
(a) causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target's property;
(b) places the target in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself or damage to his or her property;
(c) creates a hostile environment at school for the target;
(d) infringes on the rights of the target at school; or
(e) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Bullying shall include cyberbullying.
Charter School, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, §37O, means a Commonwealth charter school or Horace Mann charter school established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, § 89.
Collaborative School, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, §37O, means a school operated by an educational collaborative established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 40, §4E.
Cyberbullying, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, §37O, means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications. Cyberbullying shall also include:
(a) the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person, or
(b) the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions in 603 CMR 49.02: Bullying(a) through (e). Cyberbullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions in 603 CMR 49.02: Bullying(a) through (e).
Hostile Environment, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, §37O, means a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the student's education.
Local Law Enforcement Agency means a local police department.
Local Plan means the bullying prevention and intervention plan required to be developed under M.G.L. c. 71, §37O.
Parent means a student's father or mother, or guardian.
Principal means the administrative leader of a public school, charter school, collaborative school, or approved private day or residential school, or his or her designee for the purposes of implementing the school's bullying prevention and intervention plan.
Retaliation means any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment directed against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation about bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying.
School means an approved private day or residential school, collaborative school, or charter school.
School District, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, §37O, means the school department of a city or town, a regional school district or a county agricultural school.
Student Record has the meaning set forth in the Massachusetts Student Records Regulations, 603 CMR 23.02: Definition of Terms.
Target means a student victim of bullying or retaliation as defined in M.G.L. c. 71, §37O.
49.03: Bullying and Retaliation Prohibited
(1) Bullying of a student is prohibited as provided in M.G.L. c. 71, §37O. Retaliation is also prohibited.
(2) Bullying shall be prohibited on school grounds, property immediately adjacent to school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a school district or school, or through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased or used by a school district or school. Bullying at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related, or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by a school district or school, shall be prohibited if the bullying:
(a) creates a hostile environment at school for the target;
(b) infringes on the rights of the target at school; or
(c) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
(3) Each school district and school shall have procedures for receiving reports of bullying or retaliation; promptly responding to and investigating such reports, and determining whether bullying or retaliation has occurred; responding to incidents of bullying or retaliation; and reporting to parents and law enforcement as set forth in 603 CMR 49.04 and 49.05.
49.04: Notice to Parents
(1) Upon investigation and determination that bullying or retaliation has occurred, the principal shall promptly notify the parents of the target and the aggressor (when the aggressor is a student) of the determination and the school district or school's procedures for responding to the bullying or retaliation. The principal shall inform the target's parent of actions that school officials will take to prevent further acts of bullying or retaliation. Nothing in 603 CMR 49.04 prohibits the principal from contacting a parent of a target or aggressor (when the aggressor is a student) about a report of bullying or retaliation prior to a determination that bullying or retaliation has occurred.
(2) Notice required by 603 CMR 49.04 shall be provided in the primary language of the home.
(3) Each school district and school shall include the requirements and procedures for communicating with the parents of the aggressor (when the aggressor is a student) and target of bullying or retaliation in the local plan.
(4) A principal's notification to a parent about an incident or a report of bullying or retaliation must comply with confidentiality requirements of the Massachusetts Student Records Regulations, 603 CMR 23.00: Student Records, and the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Regulations, 34 CFR Part 99, as set forth in 603 CMR 49.06.
49.05: Notice to Law Enforcement Agency
(1) Before the first day of each school year, the superintendent or designee of a school district and the school leader or designee of an approved private day or residential school, collaborative school, or charter school shall communicate with the chief of police or designee of the local police department about the implementation of 603 CMR 49.05. Such communication may include agreeing on a method for notification, a process for informal communication, updates of prior written agreements, or any other subject appropriate to the implementation of 603 CMR 49.05.
(2) At any point after receipt of a report of bullying or retaliation, including after an investigation, the principal shall notify the local law enforcement agency if the principal has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor. Notice shall be consistent with the requirements of 603 CMR 49.00 and established agreements with the local law enforcement agency. The principal shall document the reasons for his or her decision to notify law enforcement. Nothing in 603 CMR 49.05 shall be interpreted to require reporting to a law enforcement agency in situations in which bullying and retaliation can be handled appropriately within the school district or school.
(a) In making the determination whether notification to law enforcement is appropriate, the principal may consult with the school resource officer and any other individuals the principal deems appropriate.
(b) Nothing in 603 CMR 49.05 shall prevent the principal from taking appropriate disciplinary or other action pursuant to school district or school policy and state law, provided that disciplinary actions balance the need for accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior.
(c) The principal shall respond to the incident as set forth in relevant provisions of the local plan consistent with 603 CMR 49.05.
(3) If an incident of bullying or retaliation occurs on school grounds and involves a former student under the age of 21 who is no longer enrolled in the school district or school, the principal of the school informed of the bullying or retaliation shall notify the local law enforcement agency if the principal has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor.
(4) Each school district and school shall include the requirements and procedures for communicating with the local law enforcement agency in the local plan.
49.06: Confidentiality of Records
(1) A principal may not disclose information from a student record of a target or aggressor to a parent unless the information is about the parent's own child.
(2) A principal may disclose a determination of bullying or retaliation to a local law enforcement agency under 603 CMR 49.05 without the consent of a student or his or her parent. The principal shall communicate with law enforcement officials in a manner that protects the privacy of targets, student witnesses, and aggressors to the extent practicable under the circumstances.
(3) A principal may disclose student record information about a target or aggressor to appropriate parties in addition to law enforcement in connection with a health or safety emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals as provided in 603 CMR 23.07(4)(e) and 34 CFR 99.31(a)(10) and 99.36. 603 CMR 49.06(3) is limited to instances in which the principal has determined there is an immediate and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or other individuals. It is limited to the period of emergency and does not allow for blanket disclosure of student record information. The principal must document the disclosures and the reasons that the principal determined that a health or safety emergency exists.
Regulatory Authority:
603 CMR 49.00: M.G.L. 71, §37O, as amended by St. 2013, c. 38, and St. 2014, c. 86.
