In Connecticut, each local or regional board of education is required to approve a safe school climate plan and submit it to the State Department of Education. Within 30 days of approval, the board must post the plan on its and each school's website, and publish it in any school district publications or school handbooks. The plan’s requirements can be broken down into three general components: (1) the process for investigating and resolving bullying complaints; (2) specific training for school staff regarding bullying; and (3) measures to monitor and enhance anti-bullying plans. Let's explore these components in greater detail below.
Investigating and Resolving Complaints
The plan requires a “safe school climate specialist” to be designated in every school, typically the principal or their appointee. This specialist is tasked with overseeing the investigation of all bullying reports immediately upon receipt of a written complaint. Although anonymous reports can be reviewed, disciplinary actions cannot be based solely on them. Within 48 hours after concluding an investigation, the school must notify both the alleged bully and the victim, inviting them to at least one meeting to discuss protective measures for the victim and strategies to prevent further incidents.
The board must also develop a “prevention and intervention strategy” to assist school employees in addressing bullying-related issues. While the General Assembly does not mandate specific actions, it offers recommendations for schools to consider when formulating a strategy. Suggestions include implementing behavioral support programs or other evidence-based approaches to promote a safe school climate or prevent bullying. Schools are encouraged to establish clear anti-bullying rules, outline appropriate consequences, and ensure adult supervision in areas prone to such incidents. Other recommendations involve school-wide training, student peer education, and policies to increase parental involvement in bullying prevention.
Given the unique nature of each bullying incident, the statute allows the board to initiate case-specific interventions for repeated acts of bullying. If the principal believes a bullying student is engaged in criminal behavior, they need to report this to local law enforcement.
At the district level, the superintendent must appoint a safe school climate coordinator from existing staff to oversee climate specialists in each school. This coordinator is primarily responsible for executing the safe school climate plan and must work in collaboration with climate specialists, the board, and the superintendent to address bullying. The coordinator must meet with climate specialists at least twice annually to discuss bullying issues and any recommendations for amending the district’s current plan. Additionally, the coordinator must work with the superintendent to provide data and information about bullying within the district.
School Staff Training
In order to better identify and tackle bullying in schools, the statute mandates that all school employees complete a training program run by the State Department of Education on youth suicide prevention and bullying. This training is required annually unless school staff possess a valid bullying certification. While the General Assembly does not specify program requirements, it does offer guidelines for inclusion:
- Strategies to prevent bullying among students both inside and outside of school;
- Strategies for immediate interventions to curb bullying;
- Information on the dynamics between students who bully and those who are bullied;
- Findings on bullying, including at-risk student profiles;
- Information on cyber-bullying and related Internet safety issues; and
- Information on youth suicide, including risk identification and prevention strategies.
Note that this training can be delivered in person by mentors, in state-wide workshops, or through online courses.
Monitoring and Implementing Bullying Plans
The Connecticut General Assembly has established requirements for monitoring and improving existing bullying plans. A school principal must set up a committee or designate an existing one to foster a safe school climate and address issues related to bullying in the school. The committee, using investigative bullying reports, is tasked with identifying and addressing patterns of bullying, as well as reviewing and amending school policies. It must also make recommendations on school climate issues and work with the safe school climate coordinator to gather data on incidents.
To ensure diverse perspectives, at least one parent or guardian of a student must be included in the committee. However, parents do not receive copies of bullying reports or engage in activities that might compromise student confidentiality.
On a broader scope, the State Department of Education is given oversight to track and evaluate each school’s anti-bullying plans. The Department is responsible for collecting data on prevention efforts and intervention strategies to curb bullying, as well as documenting school districts’ needs for training assistance. Based on the data collected, the department will develop or recommend a model safe school climate plan for grades kindergarten to twelve.
Every two years, the State Department of Education must report to the General Assembly with a status update, including the number of verified bullying incidents, analyses of actions taken by school districts, and further recommendations for bullying prevention.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the obligations of schools to address bullying in Connecticut, or wish to consult an attorney regarding a legal matter, please contact Joseph C. Maya and the attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. at (203) 221-3100 or Jmaya@mayalaw.com to arrange a free initial consultation.
