KEEPING ALLKEEPING ALL CHILDREN CHILDREN

SAFESAFE AT SCHOOL: AT SCHOOL:

A look at the new A look at the new anti-bullying anti-bullying

initiative. initiative.

Agenda for TodayAgenda for TodayThe New Legislation: changes in The New Legislation: changes in definitions, responsibilities and definitions, responsibilities and timelines timelines Anti-Bullying Policy/Regulation Anti-Bullying Policy/Regulation DevelopmentDevelopmentPBIS and School ClimatePBIS and School ClimateBrainstorming Next Steps and Brainstorming Next Steps and District District NeedsNeedsCREC Resources and Future CREC Resources and Future WorkshopsWorkshops

The Big Picture on The Big Picture on BullyingBullying

The State Department of The State Department of Education Education is shifting from is shifting from focusing on “anti-focusing on “anti- bullying” bullying” behavior toward behavior toward developing a positive school developing a positive school climate and culture for all climate and culture for all

children. children.

THE NEW LEGISLATION: THE NEW LEGISLATION:

CHANGES IN DEFINTIONS, CHANGES IN DEFINTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIESRESPONSIBILITIES

AND TIMELINESAND TIMELINES

The LawThe Law

On July 1, 2011, On July 1, 2011, An Act Concerning An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying the Strengthening of School Bullying Laws, Laws, Public Act No. 11 – 232 was Public Act No. 11 – 232 was enacted in CT.enacted in CT.

Some of the provisions took place Some of the provisions took place immediately while others do not immediately while others do not apply until July 1, 2012.apply until July 1, 2012.

Revisions Enacted July 1, Revisions Enacted July 1, 20112011

Public Act No 11 – 232 Public Act No 11 – 232 significantly significantly changes and expands the legal changes and expands the legal definition of bullying.definition of bullying.

Responsibilities for Responsibilities for Schools Schools

and Districts ( and Districts (New)New) ““Student Safety Support Plans” must Student Safety Support Plans” must

be completed for all verified acts of be completed for all verified acts of bullying,bullying,

Within 1 school day employees must Within 1 school day employees must make an oral report of any situation make an oral report of any situation involving potential bullying,involving potential bullying,

Within 3 school days employees Within 3 school days employees must make a written report or any must make a written report or any situation involving potential bullying,situation involving potential bullying,

Responsibilities for Schools Responsibilities for Schools and Districts ( and Districts (New)New)

Investigations must be completed Investigations must be completed “promptly”,“promptly”,

Upon completion of an investigation, parents Upon completion of an investigation, parents must be notified, within 48 hours, regarding must be notified, within 48 hours, regarding the school’s response and consequences the school’s response and consequences imposed,imposed,

All “school employees” must annually All “school employees” must annually participate in training regarding the laws participate in training regarding the laws around bullying and prevention and around bullying and prevention and intervention procedures & strategies,intervention procedures & strategies,

Safe School Climate Plans must be Safe School Climate Plans must be completed by 1/01/12,completed by 1/01/12,

Responsibilities for Schools and Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (Districts (New)New)

Districts must identify a “Safe School Districts must identify a “Safe School Climate Coordinator” (Effective 7/01/12),Climate Coordinator” (Effective 7/01/12),

Each school must identify a “Safe School Each school must identify a “Safe School Climate Specialist” (Effective 7/01/12),Climate Specialist” (Effective 7/01/12),

Student, Staff and Parent Assessments Student, Staff and Parent Assessments must be completed by 7/2012 (& must be completed by 7/2012 (& biennially thereafter),biennially thereafter),

Each school must create a “Safe School Each school must create a “Safe School Climate Committee with parent Climate Committee with parent representation (Effective 7/01/12).representation (Effective 7/01/12).

Responsibilities for Responsibilities for Schools Schools

and Districts (and Districts (Old) Old)

Students must be able to report Students must be able to report alleged acts of bullying anonymously,alleged acts of bullying anonymously,

Parents/guardians must be able to file Parents/guardians must be able to file written reports of suspected bullying, written reports of suspected bullying,

School staff who witness acts of School staff who witness acts of bullying must notify school bullying must notify school administrators,administrators,

Responsibilities for Schools and Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (Districts (Old)Old)

School Administrator (or designee) must School Administrator (or designee) must complete an investigation of any alleged act complete an investigation of any alleged act of bullying within a reasonable period of of bullying within a reasonable period of time,time,

Schools must have a preventive approach to Schools must have a preventive approach to bullying in place,bullying in place,

Parents/guardians of the alleged perpetrator Parents/guardians of the alleged perpetrator and alleged victim must be notified. and alleged victim must be notified. Meetings must occur with all parties,Meetings must occur with all parties,

Responsibilities for Schools and Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (Districts (Old)Old)

School districts must have written School districts must have written policies and procedures in place that policies and procedures in place that address bullying,address bullying,

Annually, districts must report the Annually, districts must report the verified incidents of bullying to the verified incidents of bullying to the State Department of Education State Department of Education (number only!)(number only!)

ANTI-BULLYING ANTI-BULLYING POLICY DEVELOPMENTPOLICY DEVELOPMENT

DueNow!!

Do Your Policy and/or Do Your Policy and/or Regulations Include…Regulations Include…

New definitionsNew definitions What constitutes bullyingWhat constitutes bullying Cyberbullying and electronic communicationsCyberbullying and electronic communications Refer to your School Climate PlanRefer to your School Climate Plan District Safe School Climate Coordinator and Safe School District Safe School Climate Coordinator and Safe School

Climate SpecialistClimate Specialist School Climate Committee including at least one parentSchool Climate Committee including at least one parent Process and procedures with new time frames and student Process and procedures with new time frames and student

safety support plans safety support plans Dissemination of bullying policyDissemination of bullying policy Staff trainingStaff training

PBIS AND PBIS AND SCHOOL CLIMATESCHOOL CLIMATE

SW-PBIS DistrictsSW-PBIS DistrictsCREC Service RegionCREC Service Region

CromwellCromwell BristolBristol New BritainNew Britain HartfordHartford East HartfordEast Hartford ManchesterManchester VernonVernon TollandTolland WindsorWindsor EllingtonEllington Windsor LocksWindsor Locks

BoltonBolton West HartfordWest Hartford HebronHebron ColchesterColchester CRECCREC SimsburySimsbury Rocky HillRocky Hill WindhamWindham SouthingtonSouthington East GranbyEast Granby

Public Act No. 11-232Public Act No. 11-232

Sec. 2…”prevention and intervention Sec. 2…”prevention and intervention strategy” may include, but is not strategy” may include, but is not limited to, (1) implementation of a limited to, (1) implementation of a positive behavioral interventions and positive behavioral interventions and supports process or another evidence-supports process or another evidence-based model approach for safe school based model approach for safe school climate or for the prevention of bullying climate or for the prevention of bullying identified by the Department of identified by the Department of Education,…Education,…

Public Act. No. 11-232Public Act. No. 11-232

Public Act No. 11-232Public Act No. 11-232Safe School

Climate Committee

Patterns

Policy

Education

Safe School Climate

Plan

Reporting

Investigation

Procedures

Safe School Climate

Specialist

Investigate Reported

Acts

Collect and Maintain Reports

District Safe School Climate

Coordinator

Collaboration and Information

Sharing

Meet with Climate

Specialists

Public Act No. 11-232Public Act No. 11-232SW-PBIS

Team

Patterns

Policy

Education

Practices andSystems

Reporting

Investigation

Procedures

SW-PBIS Coach

Investigate Reported

Acts

Collect and Maintain Reports

District PBISCoordinator

Collaboration and Information

Sharing

Meet with Climate

Specialists

BRAINSTORMING NEXT BRAINSTORMING NEXT STEPS AND DISTRICT STEPS AND DISTRICT

NEEDSNEEDS

CREC RESOURCES ANDCREC RESOURCES ANDFUTURE WORKSHOPSFUTURE WORKSHOPS

CREC Website

Upcoming ActivitiesUpcoming Activities One Day Workshop for School Climate Coordinators One Day Workshop for School Climate Coordinators

and Specialists , November 30, MPTP, $75/personand Specialists , November 30, MPTP, $75/person 2.5 hour School Climate Plans: Facilitated Session, 2.5 hour School Climate Plans: Facilitated Session,

December 13, MPTP, $50/District TeamDecember 13, MPTP, $50/District Team Open Choice Book Club, November 29, Kick Off Open Choice Book Club, November 29, Kick Off

Dinner, No Cost (Other Book Clubs)Dinner, No Cost (Other Book Clubs) HS Unity Teams, January 27, No CostHS Unity Teams, January 27, No Cost Paraprofessional Training on Bullying, Winter 2012Paraprofessional Training on Bullying, Winter 2012 CALI School Climate Training, February 2012CALI School Climate Training, February 2012 Parent Workshop Model, April 2012Parent Workshop Model, April 2012 School Climate Institute, CREC, July 24-25School Climate Institute, CREC, July 24-25 Customized Staff Development or Technical Customized Staff Development or Technical

AssistanceAssistance

CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION Carole KerkinCarole Kerkin ckerkin@crec.org

Student ServicesStudent Services

Donna MorelliDonna Morelli dmorelli@crec.orgTechnical And Brokering Services (TABS)Technical And Brokering Services (TABS)

Tim NeeTim Nee tnee@crec.orgTeaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

Thank-you!Thank-you!Let us know how we can Let us know how we can

help!help!