STOP!t App

The ReThink App helps STOP cyberbullying. It’s available FOR FREE, in both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. You can download it today.

Visit the Site: http://www.rethinkwords.com/whatisrethink

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rethink.app.rethinkkeyboard&hl=en

Apple iTunes Store:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rethink-stop-cyberbullying/id1035161775

What is Bullying?

Bullying is an unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of real or perceived power between individuals with the intent to cause harm. Students who are the targets of bullying behavior and those who exhibit bullying behavior toward others may suffer serious, lasting consequences. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must include:

A Deliberate Act: To cause emotional or physical harm to another individual.

An Imbalance of Power: Those who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and vary in different situations, even if they involve the same people.

Repetition: Bullying behaviors that display more than one time or have the potential to happen more than once.

Types of Bullying

Verbal, Social/Psychological/Relational, and Physical are three types of bullying outlined by the federal government and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Cyberbullying can involve all three types of bullying and takes place using electronic technology.  Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets, as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. This type of bullying is becoming more prevalent every day. Examples include:

• Demeaning or hateful text messages or emails
• Rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites
• Embarrassing pictures, videos, website, or fake profiles posted online

Texas Leadership Policy on Bullying

BULLYING  |  FREEDOM FROM BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING

Student Handbook: Page 20-21

Texas Leadership prohibits bullying as defined by this section, as well as retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process. Bullying means a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one (1) 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 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 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; or
• Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or the School; or
• Infringes on the rights of the victim at school.

BULLYING  |  FREEDOM FROM BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING

Student Handbook: Page 20-21

Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through 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. The school’s bullying policy applies to:

• Bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;
• 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
• Cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity if the cyberbullying: Ø Interferes with a student’s educational opportunities; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

Reporting Procedures

Any student who believes that he or she has experienced any form of bullying or believes that another student has experienced bullying should immediately report the alleged acts to the Principal, a teacher, counselor, or other school employee. Students can now also file an anonymous report through the STOPit App. A report may also be made orally or in writing, and may also be submitted anonymously. Any school employee who receives notice that a student has or may have experienced bullying shall immediately notify the Principal or Assistant Principal. The Principal or Assistant Principal will notify the victim, the student who engaged in bullying, and any student witnesses of available counseling options.

The Principal or Assistant Principal shall provide notice of incident of alleged bullying to:

• A parent or guardian of the alleged victim on or before the third business day after the date the incident is reported; and
• A parent or guardian of the alleged bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident.

Investigation of Report

The Principal or Assistant Principal shall determine whether the allegations in the report, if proven, would constitute prohibited harassment and, if so, proceed under that policy instead. The Principal or Assistant Principal shall conduct an appropriate investigation based on the allegations in the report, and shall take prompt interim action calculated to prevent bullying during the course of an investigation, if appropriate.

The Principal or Assistant Principal shall prepare a written report of the investigation, including a determination of whether bullying occurred. If the results of an investigation indicated that bullying occurred, the school shall promptly respond by taking appropriate disciplinary or corrective action reasonably calculated to address the conduct in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Texas Leadership may take action based on the results of an investigation, even if the school concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying under this policy.

Discipline for bullying of a student with disabilities shall comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). Texas Leadership may not impose discipline on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, based on that student’s use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying.

The Principal, or the Assistant Principal, may make a report to the police department of the municipality in which the school is located or, if the school is not in a municipality, the sheriff of the county in which the school is located if, after an investigation is completed, the Principal or Assistant Principal has reasonable grounds to believe that a student engaged in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 22.01 (Assault) or 42.07(a)(7) (Harassment), Texas Penal Code.

Confidentiality

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

BULLYING  |  FREEDOM FROM BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING

Student Handbook: Page 22

Appeal

A student or parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation may appeal through the Texas Leadership grievance procedure.

BULLYING  |  FREEDOM FROM BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING

Student Handbook: Page 22