33-1631. REQUIREMENTS FOR HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. (1) School districts and charter schools shall undertake reasonable efforts to ensure that information on harassment, intimidation and bullying of students is disseminated annually to all school personnel, parents and students, including an affirmation that school personnel are authorized and expected to intervene or facilitate intervention on behalf of students facing harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(2) School districts and charter schools shall provide ongoing professional development to build skills of all school staff members to prevent, identify and respond to harassment, intimidation and bullying. The state board shall promulgate rules regarding the content of the professional development required by this subsection.

(3) District policies shall include a series of graduated consequences that may include, but are not limited to, referral to counseling, diversion, use of juvenile specialty courts, restorative practices, on-site suspension and expulsion for any student who commits an act of bullying, intimidation, harassment, violence or threats of violence. Guidelines for such policies will be set forth in the rules of the state board.

(4) Annually school districts shall report bullying incidents to the state department of education in a format set forth in rule by the state board. District policy shall designate persons to whom bullying reports are to be made and a procedure for a teacher or other school employee, student, parent, guardian or other person to report or otherwise provide information on bullying activity.

History:

[(33-1631) 33-1630, added 2015, ch. 289, sec. 2, p. 1161; am. and redesig. 2016, ch. 47, sec. 16, p. 110.]