Bullying

Texas Education Code (TEC) §37.0832 identifies bullying 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, or physical conduct and 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 of damage to the student's property;
• is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
• materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school, or infringes on the rights of the victim at school.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that involves the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool.

This state law on bullying prevention applies to:

1. Bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a schoolsponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;

2. Bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and

3. Cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or schoolrelated activity if the cyberbullying interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

According to experts in the field, bullying in general is the exploitation of a less powerful person by an individual taking unfair advantage of that person, which is repeated over time, and which inflicts a negative effect on the victim.

Students are encouraged to inform school personnel if they are the victim of or a witness to acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.  Reports may be made anonymously.

However, no formal disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

Parents should:

1. Report bullying when it occurs;

2. Take advantage of opportunities to talk to their children about bullying;

3. Inform the school immediately if they think their child is being bullied or is bullying others; 

4. Watch for symptoms that their child may be a victim of bullying and report those symptoms; 

5. Cooperate fully with school personnel in identifying and resolving incidents.

Bullying Check List/ Lista de Verificacion del Acoso

If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying or harassment please report it immediately.

 Report Bullying