Agenda for Today

1. KEEPING ALL CHILDREN SAFE AT SCHOOL:A look at the new anti-bullying initiative.

2. Agenda for Today The New Legislation: changes in definitions, responsibilities and timelines Anti-Bullying Policy/Regulation Development PBIS and School Climate Brainstorming Next Steps and District Needs CREC Resources and Future Workshops

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

4. THE NEW LEGISLATION: CHANGES IN DEFINTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND TIMELINES

5. The Law • On July 1, 2011, An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying Laws, Public Act No. 11 – 232 was enacted in CT. • Some of the provisions took place immediately while others do not apply until July 1, 2012.

6. Revisions Enacted July 1, 2011 • Public Act No 11 – 232 significantly changes and expands the legal definition of bullying.

7. Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (New) • “Student Safety Support Plans” must be completed for all verified acts of bullying, • Within 1 school day employees must make an oral report of any situation involving potential bullying, • Within 3 school days employees must make a written report or any situation involving potential bullying,

8. Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (New) • Investigations must be completed “promptly”, • Upon completion of an investigation, parents must be notified, within 48 hours, regarding the school’s response and consequences imposed, • All “school employees” must annually participate in training regarding the laws around bullying and prevention and intervention procedures & strategies, • Safe School Climate Plans must be completed by 1/01/12,

9. Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (New) • Districts must identify a “Safe School Climate Coordinator” (Effective 7/01/12), • Each school must identify a “Safe School Climate Specialist” (Effective 7/01/12), • Student, Staff and Parent Assessments must be completed by 7/2012 (& biennially thereafter), • Each school must create a “Safe School Climate Committee with parent representation (Effective 7/01/12).

10. Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (Old) • Students must be able to report alleged acts of bullying anonymously, • Parents/guardians must be able to file written reports of suspected bullying, • School staff who witness acts of bullying must notify school administrators,

11. Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (Old) • School Administrator (or designee) must complete an investigation of any alleged act of bullying within a reasonable period of time, • Schools must have a preventive approach to bullying in place, • Parents/guardians of the alleged perpetrator and alleged victim must be notified. Meetings must occur with all parties,

12. Responsibilities for Schools and Districts (Old) • School districts must have written policies and procedures in place that address bullying, • Annually, districts must report the verified incidents of bullying to the State Department of Education (number only!)

13. ANTI-BULLYING POLICY DEVELOPMENT

14. Due Now!!

15. Do Your Policy and/or Regulations Include… • New definitions • What constitutes bullying • Cyberbullying and electronic communications • Refer to your School Climate Plan • District Safe School Climate Coordinator and Safe School Climate Specialist • School Climate Committee including at least one parent • Process and procedures with new time frames and student safety support plans • Dissemination of bullying policy • Staff training

16. PBIS AND SCHOOL CLIMATE

17. Cromwell Bristol New Britain Hartford East Hartford Manchester Vernon Tolland Windsor Ellington Windsor Locks Bolton West Hartford Hebron Colchester CREC Simsbury Rocky Hill Windham Southington East Granby SW-PBIS DistrictsCREC Service Region

18. Public Act No. 11-232 • Sec. 2…”prevention and intervention strategy” may include, but is not limited to, (1) implementation of a positive behavioral interventions and supports process or another evidence-based model approach for safe school climate or for the prevention of bullying identified by the Department of Education,… Public Act. No. 11-232

19. Public Act No. 11-232

20. Public Act No. 11-232

21. BRAINSTORMING NEXT STEPS AND DISTRICT NEEDS

22. CREC RESOURCES ANDFUTURE WORKSHOPS CREC Website

23. Upcoming Activities • One Day Workshop for School Climate Coordinators and Specialists , November 30, MPTP, $75/person • 2.5 hour School Climate Plans: Facilitated Session, December 13, MPTP, $50/District Team • Open Choice Book Club, November 29, Kick Off Dinner, No Cost (Other Book Clubs) • HS Unity Teams, January 27, No Cost • Paraprofessional Training on Bullying, Winter 2012 • CALI School Climate Training, February 2012 • Parent Workshop Model, April 2012 • School Climate Institute, CREC, July 24-25 • Customized Staff Development or Technical Assistance

24. CONTACT INFORMATION • Carole Kerkin ckerkin@crec.org Student Services • Donna Morelli dmorelli@crec.org Technical And Brokering Services (TABS) • Tim Nee tnee@crec.org Teaching and Learning

25. Thank-you! Let us know how we can help!