No student should be subjected to bullying or harassment; or to safety issues that can occur as a result of these negative behaviors. All BISD students receive age-appropriate instruction that includes:
- Definition of bullying and cyberbullying
- Negative effects of bullying
- How to recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying
- Skills for building healthy relationships with other students and staff
- Their personal role in fostering a positive school climate
- How to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying
- How to report an alleged incident of bullying, including anonymous reporting
- The importance of reporting
Because October is National Bullying Prevention Month, to further reinforce the instruction students have received, secondary school counselors and police officers use this opportunity to reinforce to students how to recognize and report bullying. School safety is a priority, and we take complaints of bullying very seriously. In order to be investigated, it must first be reported.
How do you report bullying?
Click the “Keep BISD Safe” link at the top of any page on the BISD website. Select “Report Bullying” then select the campus and complete the form. This is also accessible from the “Keep Safe” button on the BISD app that can be downloaded from your phone’s app store.
What is bullying?
Bullying is defined in Texas schools 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 (cyberbullying), or physical conduct 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 damage to the student's property;
- is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student;
- materially or substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
- infringes on the rights of the victim at school.
These provisions apply to bullying that occurs on school property or on the site of a school-related activity on or off school property, bullying that occurs on a school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school-related activity, and cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity if the conduct interferes with a student's educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the operations of school, classroom, or school-related activity.
Student Survey
Students across the district will participate in a fall survey to collect data related to bullying as an effort to help campuses define their positive school culture and develop action plans based on results. If you do not want your child to participate in this survey, please communicate this to your child’s Principal. Questions on the survey are:
- Your school
- Your grade (4-12)
- Rate how safe you feel in each of the locations listed: Entrances and exits, Hallways, Classrooms, Cafeteria, Restrooms, Library, Office locations, Locker rooms, Gyms, Buses, Extra-curricular activities.
- I feel safe at this school. (Strongly agree/Agree/Disagree/Strongly Disagree)
- If bullying is observed, students at this school try to stop it and report it to adults. (Strongly agree/Agree/Disagree/Strongly Disagree)
- If bullying is observed, adults at this school appropriately respond to it. (Strongly agree/Agree/Disagree/Strongly Disagree)
- On a scale of 1-10, how frequently does bullying occur at your campus?
- The adults at my school try to stop and address fights if they occur. (Strongly agree/Agree/Disagree/Strongly Disagree)
- On a scale of 1-10, how frequently do fights occur at your campus?
- If YOU observed bullying or threats at your school, how do you report it?
Bullying prevention requires a team effort. Unite with us by making a commitment to recognize, respond to, and report concerning behavior.
For more or to report bullying, visit BISD Bully Reporting.