The Austin Independent School District prohibits bullying. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of district policy.

The district prohibits the bullying of any student:

1. During any educational program or activity conducted by the district;
2. During any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity or on a school bus;
3. Through the use of any electronic device or data while on school grounds or on a school bus or through the use of computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, or computer network of the school district. The physical location or time of access of a computer-related incident cannot be raised as a defense in any disciplinary action initiated under this section; or
4. Through threats, using any of the above methods, to be carried out on school grounds, which includes threats made outside of school hours that are intended to be carried out during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, or on a school bus.

Though an incident of alleged bullying may occur off campus and may not entail threats of acts to occur during school hours, if a student’s ability to receive an education or a school’s ability to provide an education is significantly impaired, as determined by the district administration, disciplinary sanctions may be imposed.

Such behavior is considered harassment or bullying whether it takes place on or off school property, at any school-sponsored function, or in a school vehicle.

A student or witness may file a complaint following the same procedures for bullying against a student that occurs at a bus stop or en route to and from school, and the school shall investigate and/or provide assistance and intervention as the principal or designee deems appropriate.

Bullying means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students. Bullying of a student may include hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, confinement, assault, demands for money, extortion, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, ridicule, name-calling, rumor spreading, slurs, jokes, innuendos, demeaning comments, and ostracism of the person or another.

It is further defined as any unwanted purposeful gesture or written, verbal, graphic, or physical act (including electronically transmitted acts – i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or wireless hand-held device) that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, socio-economic background, social/family background, linguistic preference, political beliefs, or a mental, physical, or sensory disability, difference, or impairment; or by any other distinguishing characteristic or because of one’s association with a particular person or group of persons.

Bullying also includes but is not limited to, any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by a student, that has the potential to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment or cause long-term damage, cause discomfort or humiliation, or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation, or is carried out repeatedly and is often characterized by an imbalance of power.

Bullying may involve, but is not limited to:

• Verbal: Hurtful name-calling, teasing, gossiping, making threats, making rude noises, or spreading hurtful rumors.
• Nonverbal: Posturing, making gang signs, leering, staring, stalking, destroying property, using graffiti or graphic images, or exhibiting inappropriate and/or threatening gestures or actions.
• Physical: Hitting, punching, pushing, shoving, poking, kicking, tripping, strangling, hair pulling, fighting, beating, biting, spitting, or destroying property.
• Emotional (Psychological): Rejecting, terrorizing, extorting, defaming, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, manipulating friendships, isolating, ostracizing, using peer pressure, or rating or ranking personal characteristics.

Bullying occurs when a student or a group of students engages in written or verbal expression or physical conduct that:

• 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 so sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; or
• Has the effect of substantially negatively impacting a student’s emotional or mental well-being

• Cyberbullying is defined as willful harassment and intimidation of a person through the use of digital technologies, including, but not limited to, e-mail, blogs, texting on cell phones, social Websites (e.g., MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and the like), chat rooms, “sexting”, instant messaging, or video voyeurism by accessing or knowingly and willingly causing or providing access to data or computer software through a computer, computer system, or computer network within the scope of the District network system.
• Cyberstalking means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at or about a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.
• Prohibited Harassment includes, but is not limited, to oral, written, psychological, physical (both climate and contact), and other demonstrative actions with regard to race, creed, ethnic origin, religious preference, gender, disability, or sexual orientation that is harassing. [See Board Policy FFH(LOCAL)]
• Accused is defined as any district student in the school or outside the school at school-sponsored events, on school buses, or at training facilities or training programs sponsored by the district who is reported to have committed an act of bullying, whether formally or informally, verbally, or in writing.
• Complainant is defined as any individual who has a complaint or concern.
• Victim is defined as any district student who is reported to have been the target of an act of bullying during any educational program or activity.

There are two ways bullying can become harassment: 

1) The Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice have stated that bullying becomes harassment when the aggressive behavior is based on a student’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. 

 2) When the same person is repeatedly targeted by another student (or group of students).

Harassing behaviors may include:

• Unwelcome conduct such as: verbal abuse, i.e., name-calling, epithets, slurs, etc. Graphic or written statements
• Threats
• Physical assault
• Other conduct that may be physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating.

Conflict is a struggle between two or more people who appear to have different goals or desires. Conflict occurs naturally as we interact with one another. It is a normal part of life that we will not always agree with other people about the things we want, what we think, or what we want to do.

Most conflicts arise in the moment because people of the same relative amount of power see the same situation from two different points of view. Here are a few examples: 

• Two students are on a committee together and they don’t agree on how to decorate for a banquet.
• Two boys get into a fight after a rough play in a football game.
• Students disagree over who should do clean-up after a group project.
• Two girls get into an argument when they realize they’ve worn the same outfit to a party. 
• Two students who used to be friends bash each other online daily.
• A girl wanted to attend another girl’s birthday party, but she wasn’t invited.
• Two boys argue over who could win in a fight between Batman and Superman.
• Girls on a drill team disagree over what routine they will do for a pep rally.

Think of some of the ways we describe people in conflict – “they were butting heads,” “she gave as good as she got,” “they were going back and forth at each other,” “it was he said she said.” Both people are equally “telling their side of the story.” In conflict, the incident is usually “two-sided” – each student is being aggressive toward the other one. In bullying, it tends to be one-sided.

In bullying, there’s usually not a conflict or disagreement. One person or a group of people are targeting another individual because they can. As we said earlier, it’s about arrogance, power, and control.

Reports of bullying should be made as soon as possible after the alleged act or knowledge of the alleged act. A failure to promptly report may impair the District’s ability to investigate and address the prohibited conduct.

Students or parents may report an alleged incident of bullying, orally or in writing, counselor, principal or other district employee. Additionally, parents and students have the option to report bullying online using the Let’s Talk tool

Report a Student Safety Concern

With Let’s Talk, individuals can submit anonymous reports containing text, photos, or video. Administrators are then able to manage incidents in a backend management system. This system provides efficient and powerful investigative tools to staff, including the ability to message with the reporter, which will allow Austin ISD to address issues instantly.

Absent extenuating circumstances, the investigation should be completed within ten school days from the date of the report; however, the campus principal or designee shall take additional time if necessary to complete a thorough investigation.

District Action

If the results of an investigation indicate that bullying occurred, the campus principal shall promptly respond by taking appropriate disciplinary or corrective action reasonably calculated to address the conduct in accordance with the district’s Student Code of Conduct. [For information on student transfers due to bullying, see Board Policy FDB.]

The principal shall convene the Safe & Supportive Schools Program (SSSP) Team for the purpose of developing a plan of action/interventions for the victim and/or perpetrator, even if the District concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying under this policy.

Victims of bullying shall be offered counseling services ranging from those provided by school counselors to a referral to one of the District’s Licensed Mental Health Professionals.

Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a student who commits one or more acts of harassment or bullying may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Consequences for a student who commits an act of harassment or bullying shall be unique to the individual incident and shall vary in method and severity according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, and the student’s history of problem behaviors and performance. The consequences must also be consistent with the district’s Student Success Guide - Code of Conduct.

The district may take action based on the results of an investigation, even if the district concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying under this policy.

To the greatest extent possible, the district shall respect the privacy of the complainant, persons against whom a report is filed, and witnesses. Limited disclosures may be necessary in order to conduct a thorough investigation.

A parent, legal guardian, or adult student who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation or plan of action may appeal through Board Policy FNG(LOCAL) beginning at the appropriate level.

Retention of records shall be in accordance with Board Policy CPC(LOCAL).