KEEPING ALLKEEPING ALL CHILDREN CHILDREN

SAFESAFE AT SCHOOL: AT SCHOOL:

A Parents’ Guide A Parents’ Guide

WHAT IS CREC?WHAT IS CREC?

The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) offers a The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) offers a wide array of cost-effective, high-quality programs and wide array of cost-effective, high-quality programs and services to meet the educational needs of children services to meet the educational needs of children and adults in the Capitol Region. Established in 1966, and adults in the Capitol Region. Established in 1966, CREC is supported by local, state, federal and private CREC is supported by local, state, federal and private funds.funds.

CREC is one of six Regional Educational Service Centers CREC is one of six Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs) established under a Connecticut General Statute, (RESCs) established under a Connecticut General Statute, which permits local boards of education to establish a which permits local boards of education to establish a RESC as a “public educational authority” for the purpose RESC as a “public educational authority” for the purpose of “cooperative action to furnish programs and services.”of “cooperative action to furnish programs and services.”

CREC DISTRICTSCREC DISTRICTS

CONNECTICUT RESCSCONNECTICUT RESCS

SHEFF V. O’NEILLSHEFF V. O’NEILL1989:1989: Elizabeth Horton Sheff Elizabeth Horton Sheff and other parents file a lawsuit and other parents file a lawsuit charging that Connecticut's charging that Connecticut's system of separate city and system of separate city and suburban school districts led suburban school districts led to racially segregated schools to racially segregated schools and a violation of their and a violation of their children's rights to equal children's rights to equal opportunity.opportunity.

2008: 2008: The State and plaintiffs The State and plaintiffs agree to a new settlement, agree to a new settlement, calling for expanded regional calling for expanded regional magnet schools and the use of magnet schools and the use of Project Choice to provide a Project Choice to provide a quality, integrated education quality, integrated education to all children. It includes the to all children. It includes the goal that 80% of Hartford goal that 80% of Hartford parents seeking to send their parents seeking to send their children to an integrated children to an integrated school will be accommodated. school will be accommodated.

The Big Picture on The Big Picture on BullyingBullying

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

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) Districts must identify a “Safe School Districts must identify a “Safe School

Climate Coordinator” (done – not due until Climate Coordinator” (done – not due until 7/01/12),7/01/12),

Each school must identify a “Safe School Each school must identify a “Safe School Climate Specialist” (done – not due until Climate Specialist” (done – not due until 7/01/12),7/01/12),

Each school must create a “Safe School Each school must create a “Safe School Climate Committee with parent Climate Committee with parent representation.representation.

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

Student, Staff and Parent Student, Staff and Parent Assessments must be completed by Assessments must be completed by 7/2012,7/2012,

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

““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.

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 in writing within two administrators in writing within two days,days,

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!)

What You Can Do as a What You Can Do as a ParentParent

Go to Go to www.sde.ct.gov. . Paste this link into your browser: Paste this link into your browser:

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/equity/title_ix/bullying_q_and_a.pdf

..

What You Can Do as a ParentWhat You Can Do as a Parent

Spend time together and encourage Spend time together and encourage your children to share events that your children to share events that occurred during the day,occurred during the day,

Talk to your children about what Talk to your children about what bullying looks like and feels like,bullying looks like and feels like,

Role play,Role play,

What You Can Do as a What You Can Do as a ParentParent

Talk to your children about how to Talk to your children about how to advocate for themselves. Give them advocate for themselves. Give them the words to use: “It really bothers the words to use: “It really bothers me when you _________. Please me when you _________. Please stop.” stop.”

Help them identify adults in the Help them identify adults in the school they feel comfortable with and school they feel comfortable with and can go to with problems,can go to with problems,

What You Can Do as a What You Can Do as a ParentParent

Be a role model for your children: Be a role model for your children: practice random acts of kindness practice random acts of kindness toward others.toward others.

For further information please contact:For further information please contact:

Carole Kerkin,Carole Kerkin,

CRECCREC

School Climate CoordinatorSchool Climate Coordinatorckerkin@crec.org

860-509-3695860-509-3695