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As Educational Leaders, it is our job to make sure that the students on our campus have access to safe harm free learning environment. Therefore, we must understand the laws that surround providing that. In this, we will focus on the laws defining bullying or harassment. This padlet has the intended audience of educators interested in learning the laws surrounding bullying, and what bullying is defined as.
This topic was chosen because of the first-hand experiences, that I have witnessed surrounding bullying. Understanding what the laws say about bullying can improve an educator's ability to protect students and prevent the harmful effects that bullying can cause.

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Students face struggles every day that might not be seen at the surface by their peers. In some instances, school is the only place where students receive love and hot meals. While many students are facing struggles at home, they should not have to face these struggles at school. As Texas Educators it is our responsibility to provide a safe environment for all students. This includes developing policies that protect our students from bullying and harassment from others.
Currently, in society and social media, we are seeing more groups of people become more open about the struggles that they face daily. This is an emerging issue that we are seeing in education as students might not be expecting of others. As new judicial laws are passed about groups of people such as same-sex marriage and abortion laws, although students might not be old enough to be affected by these laws themselves, their families may be. As educators, it is our role to protect students from facing harassment and bullying by students because of their emotional decisions and their home lives.

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The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) have partnered together to create a toolkit for elementary classrooms to prevent name-calling at school. This toolkit provides lesson plans and resources for the teacher to establish a safe learning environment. The Ready, Set, Respect toolkit provides tips on how to intervene during bullying situations.

McGarry, Robert A, et al. “Ready, Set, Respect! - Glsen.” Ready, Set, Respect, 2016, www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/GLSEN%20Ready%20Set%20Respect.pdf.

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An article from Texas Tribune discusses a school board denouncing racism in a specially called meeting after parents filed many complaints.

Parents filed complaints against the district for daily harassment and violent bullying

Black students face derogatory language and racial slurs online and in person

A 15-year-old female student stated that she was afraid for her safety at school but knew she had to go anyways

Students and parents asked the school board what a “zero tolerance policy” meant to them with no response.

The School board releases a resolution condemning all racial activity and pledges to support ending racism in their district.

Carver, J. L. (2023, January 6). Lubbock school district denounces racist bullying after federal complaint. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/05/lubbock-school-district-racism-bullying/

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The American Psychological Association released an article describing ways that teachers, administrators, parents, and students can help prevent bullying. The article covers multiple avenues for everyone to be a part of the solution in preventing and resolving bullying.

Teachers and Administrators

Be knowledgeable and observant of students on campus

Involve students and parents in the solution

Avoid forcing mediates between the bully and the bullied.

Set expectations such as anti-bullying policies or zero-tolerance policies.

Parents

Observe your child for any changes, and maintain open communication with them to provide a safe place to discuss bullying.

Teach them how to respond in bullying situations

Set boundaries for their safety

Teach them what bullying is

Students

Report any bullying, it is telling not tattling

Don’t bully back

Always seek professional help when bullying occurs, teacher, parent, administrator, and or counselor.

How parents, teachers, and kids can take action to prevent bullying. (2011, January 1). https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent

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David's Law or Texas Senate Bill 179 was passed in 2017. The purpose of S.B. 179 was to better define bullying and include cyberbullying in Texas Educational Code. David's Law supports the following:

Anonymous reporting for students

Clear Cyberbullying definition

Parent notification procedures

Requires TEA to maintain a website of helpful resources

Changes Section 42.07 of the Penal Code to more fully and clearly cover cyberbullying.

Texas S.B. 179 David's Law
https://locker.txssc.txstate.edu/3942be0c6bbe569ed1417377e6c1d2a9/SB-179.pdf

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Slide 7: Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IV

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Slide 7: Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IV

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Title IV of the Civil Right act of 1964 provides equal protection to all students within education.

Students are protected on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion in public schools and higher education

Provides funds for training teachers on what discrimination is.

Outlines how to file a complaint with the Attorney General.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IV
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act

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Texas Education Code § 37.0052  covers the placement or expulsion of students who have engaged in certain bullying behavior. Under TEC § 37.0052 a student may be expelled or placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program if they have done any of the following:

Engages in bullying behavior that encourages suicide

Incites violence

Releases or threatens to release intimate visual material of a minor or student that is 18 years or older without permission.

TEC § 37.0052
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.37.htm#37.0052

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Slide 9: TEC §37.115 Threat Assessment and Safe Supportive School Program and Team

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Slide 9: TEC §37.115 Threat Assessment and Safe Supportive School Program and Team

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TEC § 37.115 states that a school district must develop a program and team that is designed to assess students when the following behaviors are presented:

Harmful, threatening, violent behavior:

Verbal threats

Self-harm threats

Bullying

Cyberbullying

Fighting

Use or possession of a weapon

Sexual assault and or harassment

Dating violence

Stalking

assault

TEC § 37.115
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.37.htm#37.115

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According to Angelo State University's Student Handbook (2023) a student may face reprimands to expulsion from the university for acts of discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying are defined as Repeated or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally.

However, activities protected by freedom of speech will not be considered violations of the Code of Student Conduct.

Angelo State University (2023) Student Handbook, angelo.edu/live/files/27603-student-handbook-2020-21

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Standard 4d of the Texas Principal's Standards outlined by the Texas Principal Evaluation Support System States " You create an atmosphere of safety that encourages the social, emotional, and physical well being of staff and students." (Principals: Texas Principal Standards- T-PESS, n.d.)

This standard requires principals to make sure that the atmosphere or environment that is safe for students. This standard links to the laws of bullying because the bullying laws require districts to have policy in place that prevents bullying.

Principals: Texas Principal Standards- T-PESS. (n.d.). https://tpess.org/principal/standards/

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Stopbullying.gov is a website that is managed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The website is dedicated to providing resources and tips on bullying prevention. The website provides information on what educators can do in situations of bullying, as well as links to understanding the laws surrounding bullying.

stopbullying.gov

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Slide 13: Recommendations/ Best Practices

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Slide 13: Recommendations/ Best Practices

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There is not one Texas Educator or Educational Leader that will not at one point in their career face an issue related to bullying. It is sad that this is the case. Therefore, it is in the best practices that an Educational Leader understand the laws and prevention methods surrounding bullying in the Texas School System.

Read your local district policy regarding bullying

Understanding the laws at the state and federal level

Attend professional development training on techniques to handle bullying

Develop campus programs that encourage reporting of bullying events

Participate in programs or organizations such as No Place for Hate

Maintain open communication with parents and students regarding the importance of bullying prevention