JDHB August 11 2026 - redlines.pdf (109 KB)

This is the text extracted from the file, without its layout, tables, or images. Use the original for anything that matters.

Boulder Valley School District File: JDHB Adopted: June 9, 2020 Revised: June 11, 2024

BULLYING Boulder Valley School District prohibits all forms of harassment and bullying in order to foster a school climate conducive to learning, teaching, and working. The purpose of this Policy is to encourage reporting of bullying, to promote consistency of approach in preventing and responding to bullying, and to create a safe, equitable, and positive climate that regards all types of bullying, including on the basis of a protected class, as unacceptable. Definitions ● Bullying: Any conduct or communication that is written, verbal, physical, or visual (specifically including but not limited to cyberbullying and electronic communications) that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental, or emotional harm to any student. ● “Harassment” is any unwelcome verbal, written, graphic, visual, physical, or other conduct directed at an individual or group of individuals on the basis of any real or perceived class membership protected by federal and/or Colorado law that is subjectively offensive to the individual alleging harassment and is objectively offensive to a reasonable individual who is a member of the same protected class. The conduct or communication need not be severe or pervasive to constitute discrimination or harassment and is a violation of Board Policy if: ○ Submission to the conduct or communication is explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of the individual’s participation in a School District program or activity; ○ Submission to, objection to, or rejection of the conduct or communication is used as a basis for decisions affecting the individual; or ○ the conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual’s educational or work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or working environment. ● Retaliation: An act or communication intended as retribution against an individual who reports an act of bullying, discrimination and/or harassment. Retaliation can also include knowingly making false accusations of bullying, discrimination and/or harassment or acting to influence the investigation of, or the response to, a report of bullying, discrimination and/or harassment. Prohibited Behavior Bullying, harassment, and discrimination are prohibited against any student for any reason, 1

1. To send a clear message to students, staff, families, and community members that bullying, discrimination, harassment and retaliation against a student who reports bullying, discrimination, or harassment will not be tolerated. 2. To train school staff in taking proactive steps to prevent bullying, discrimination, and harassment from occurring, including but not limited to training on this Policy, how to recognize and intervene, and positive school climate practices. 3. To implement procedures for immediate intervention, investigation, and confrontation of students engaged in harmful behavior. 4. To support positive school climate efforts that clearly define, teach, and reinforce prosocial behavior. 5. To designate a team of persons at each school who collect and monitor data related to bullying, discrimination, and harassment through surveys and discipline data to improve prevention efforts. 6. To implement social emotional learning and prevention at the school or classroom level. The use of prevention programs may vary according to maturity level, grade level, and learning environment. All students involved in bullying, discrimination and/or harassment --whether they are the targeted student, impacted student, or a witness-- may experience negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance abuse, and suicide. Parents/guardians, school staff, and community all play a role in supporting our students when providing for their physical, social 2

a. Frequency of the conduct or communication, recognizing that a single incident may rise to the level of bullying, harassment or discrimination; b. Number of individuals engaged in the conduct or communication; c. Type or nature of the conduct or communication; d. Duration of the conduct or communication; e. Location where the conduct or communication occurred; f. Whether the conduct or communication is threatening; g. Whether a power differential exists between the individual alleged to have engaged in bullying, harassment, or discrimination and the individual alleging the bullying, harassment, or discrimination; h. Any use of epithets, slurs, or other conduct or communication that is humiliating or degrading; i. Whether the conduct or communication reflects stereotypes about an individual or group of individuals in a protected class; or j. Whether the conduct includes an act of physical violence. Based on all of the information available, schools must determine whether it is more likely than not that the alleged bullying occurred. Such a determination does not require certainty or irrefutable evidence.

The Board expects that parents/guardians shall be informed about their student’s significant behaviors and school interventions, including discipline. Also, the Board expects schools will notify parents about threat assessments and referrals to law enforcement, as appropriate and as soon as possible which may be after the referral has been made. Resources for students who have experienced bullying are available through: ● Safe2Tell: 877-542-SAFE (7233) ● National Sexual Assault Telephone and Online Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) ● Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-8255; Text "TALK" to 38255 ● Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) Hotline: 303-443-7300; Text “BRAVE” to 20121 Appeals If parents/guardians/students are not satisfied with the outcome of the school’s investigation and resolution, they may pursue additional School District review. Board Policy AC governs the review of allegations concerning discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected class. Board Policy KE governs the review of all other allegations of bullying. LEGAL REFS:

C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1(1)(b) (definition of bullying) C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1(2)(a)(I)(K) (policy required as part of safe schools plan) CROSS REFS.: AC, Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity JB, Equal Educational Opportunities All JD and JR policies, Student Conduct and Discipline Code KE, Complaints and Concerns End of File: JDHB