Harassment or bullying of students or staff is an extremely serious violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
It can also be a violation of criminal law. The district will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment, including sex-based harassment, in schools or school campuses, school sponsored buses, school-related or school-sponsored events, or through the use of technology or any electronic communication. The physical location or time of access of a computer-related incident cannot be raised as a defense in any disciplinary action initiated pursuant to this policy.
“Harassment” means any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal or physical conduct directed against a student or employee that:
Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based harassment, other sex-based harassment or targeted for any other reason should immediately report the harassment to the district. The district is committed to taking immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and reduce its effects. Students found to have engaged in acts of harassment or sex-based harassment will be subject to prompt disciplinary action, including, if warranted, suspension or expulsion. Students, parents, and staff are encouraged to work together to prevent sex-based harassment.
Florida law allows anonymous reporting of bullying, harassment, and hazing. "Hazing” means any action or situation that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student at a school with any of grades 6 through 12 for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a school with any of grades 6 through 12. “Hazing” includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Pressuring, coercing, or forcing a student into:
1. Violating state or federal law;
2. Consuming any food, liquor, drug, or other substance; or
3. Participating in physical activity that could adversely affect the health or safety of the student.
(b) Any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, or exposure to the elements.
Hazing does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.
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Bullying reporting is accessible from all of our school websites. The following banner is going to be displayed on every school website, as well as the home page of the District website. You can always click on this banner to report an incident.
Together We Stand is celebrated every summer and serves as a district wide anti-bullying campaign that all Pasco elementary, middle, and high schools participate in. The objective of this student summit is to support bullying prevention structures and the promotion of safe, welcoming environments where all students, staff, families, and community members feel like they belong. A main outcome of the event is providing dedicated time for student leaders to engage school administrators and other district leaders in productive dialogue to develop practices that make our schools safe, welcoming spaces.
ABC’s of Bullying: Addressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression (curriculum)
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/resources/abcs-bullying-addressing-blocking-and-curbing-school-aggression
https://www.cdrcp.com/pdf/Bullying%20Prevention%20and%20Intervention%20-%20Teachers.pdf
About Face: Turning Away From Hate (Violence Prevention)
https://centipede.spcollege.edu/aboutface/AboutFace/index.html
Common Sense K-12 Digital Citizenship
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digital-citizenship
Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment in our Nation’s Classrooms
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/creating-safe-and-respectful-environment-our-nations-classrooms-training-toolkit
Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment on our Nation’s Buses https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/creating-safe-and-respectful-environment-our-nations-school-buses-training-toolkit
National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices: Anti-bullying curriculum for K-12 students (enter ‘bully’ as the keyword)
https://www.samhsa.gov/nrepp
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (Tiered Supports)
https://pasco.instructure.com/courses/37296
Restorative Practices (Tiered Supports)
https://pasco.instructure.com/courses/140027
https://www.safeschools.info/content/BPRPWhitePaper2014.pdf
Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center (SSSTA)
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/
Safer Smarter Kids (Abuse Prevention)
https://safersmarterkids.org/teachers/curriculum/
Second Step and Steps to Respect (Social Skills)
https://www.cfchildren.org/bullying-prevention
Stopbullying.gov
https://www.stopbullying.gov/
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s model programs guide
https://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Phone Number = 1-800-273-TALK)