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Guide for Addressing Bullying / Harassment Concerns
Plano ISD is committed to providing all students with a safe and nurturing learning environment. If any student currently enrolled in our district does not feel safe and secure at school, we want to know about it. Plano ISD has resources and a communications process in place to assist families in discussing or reporting any concerns, including experiences with bullying, harassment, threats or acts of racism. We can act on these concerns when we know about them and, as a result, better serve our students and families.
Please use the following steps to properly report your concerns:
- If a crime has been committed, please contact local law enforcement. (The Plano Police department non-emergency phone number is 972-424-5678). In emergency situations requiring immediate assistance, please call 911.
- Email the student’s teacher, campus principal or counselor immediately. The following details must be provided to expedite the initial investigation and response:
- Campus name
- Name of Plano ISD student (alleged victim)
- Student ID number
- Parent name/contact information
- Names of witnesses
- Names of alleged perpetrators
- Detailed description of alleged event
- Date of alleged event
- Location of alleged event
- Supporting documentation/or other evidence supporting the allegations (if applicable)
- Other information the reporter feels is relevant to the complaint
Please Note: In order to conduct a thorough investigation, it is important that reports include the specific information listed above. Emails received with complete information will receive a response. Plano ISD will fully comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations as well as Board Policies in response to reports. - Concerns can also be reported using the Plano ISD Tip Line. This option includes an anonymous reporting feature.
- For detailed steps on how to resolve other parent concerns, please visit Plano ISD’s resolving complaints and concerns web page.
What Happens Once Concerns Are Reported
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How is bullying defined?
Bullying is defined in Section 37.0832 of the Education Code as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power* and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:
- Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property;
- Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
- Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
- Infringes on the rights of the victim at school.
Bullying includes cyberbullying. This state law on bullying prevention applies to:
- Bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a schoolsponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;
- Bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and
- Cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity if the cyberbullying interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.
*An imbalance of power is a subjective determination and can include physical, social, emotional, informational, or other threats to a students’ emotional wellbeing. This can change over time even if it involves the same students.
Power may include physical strength and stature, social status at school or on social media, or having access to embarrassing photos or personal information. For example, a student threatens to tell everyone at school that the target of their bullying lives at a shelter, or that the target’s parents are unemployed. Another example is a student with a large social media following who has access to unflattering photos of the target and threatens to post the photos online.
An overview of the law from the Texas School Safety Center is linked below.
The bullying checklist from the Texas School Safety Center assists administrators through the decision-making process while ensuring all components of the law are adhered to. The Texas School Safety Center checklist is linked below.
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Is training provided to Plano ISD students regarding bullying and harassment?
School counselors instruct all Plano ISD students on building relationships and strategies for preventing bullying, including cyberbullying. These guidance lessons require students at each grade level to learn about healthy relationships, understand what bullying and cyberbullying entails, how to report bullying, and how to be an “upstander” as a Plano ISD student.
Student Anti-Bullying/Upstander Training modules are available to Plano ISD students through WebDesk. In these sessions, students will acquire tools and strategies when confronted with bullying as well as learn ways to report bullying. WebDesk tiles in English and Spanish have been created for grade levels K-2, 3-5, and 6-12. Viewers can access the videos by clicking the text or icon below.
English Language Videos
Spanish Language Videos
(Spanish) Kinder- 2nd Anti-Bullying/Upstander Training
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Is training provided to Plano ISD employees regarding bullying and harassment?
Yes. Plano ISD requires all staff members to complete annual mandatory training required by local school board policy, state law and federal requirements. Additionally, throughout the year, staff members participate in professional development opportunities specific to their role in the district.
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What happens after I or my student reports a concern—what is the process for investigating and resolving?
- Once an allegation of bullying is reported to the school (including all of the required information requested above), parents of all students involved are notified.
- At the beginning of an investigation, safety measures are promptly put in place for all students involved to prevent any further incidents of bullying during the course of the investigation.
- Absent extenuating circumstances, the investigation is completed within 10 district business days of the initial report. The investigation can be completed sooner depending on the findings or the principal or designee may take additional time if necessary to complete a thorough investigation.
By law, school districts are required to conduct a thorough investigation and give due process to all parties involved. As a result, there can be the impression that the school or district is not doing anything or working fast enough. Please know the district is being meticulous to ensure that any investigation is being done correctly and fairly. Plano ISD utilizes a checklist developed by the Texas School Safety Center. The checklist assists administrators in determining if an action or actions constitute bullying or cyberbullying under the Texas Education Code. The checklist is linked below for your convenience.
It is important to remember that each student and each situation is unique. The district will follow all policies related to incidents that occur, as administrators seek to find solutions that best meet the student’s needs and resolve the situation in the most appropriate way.
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What happens after an investigation is concluded and what is shared publicly?
Once an investigation is completed, general conclusions of the investigation are shared with the families involved. If findings indicate bullying or a violation of the Student Code of Conduct has occurred, appropriate disciplinary action is taken in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
Students involved in the bullying investigation are classified as:
- Claimant - Individual who is the alleged “victim” of bullying.
- Respondent - Individual who is the alleged “bully”.
- Witnesses - Individuals who may have information on the bullying claim.
At the conclusion of a bullying investigation, regardless if the claim was sustained or not, campuses will notify students and parents of the appropriate interventions to be implemented. Furthermore, students will be offered the opportunity to meet with their school counselor to assess their academic, social and emotional needs. Students with an IEP may require an ARD to discuss the implications and appropriate interventions needed for that student.
While the district is not able to share publicly specific information related to the outcome of the investigation, that does not mean the district failed to take action. School districts are bound by student confidentiality state and federal privacy laws (FERPA) to protect student privacy, including sharing any disciplinary actions resulting from investigations.
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How does the district handle investigations of incidents that occur off-campus?
The Plano ISD Student Code of Conduct supports disciplinary action for some instances that occur off campus. Prior to determining whether discipline is appropriate, a district investigation, and in some cases a police department investigation, must be concluded.
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Where can I find Plano ISD’s policies regarding bullying?
- The Plano ISD Student Code of Conduct
- District Policies:
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Do Plano ISD’s policies follow state or federal laws?
Yes. Plano ISD’s policies are based on state and federal laws, which establish the procedures that are followed by schools and the district.
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How does Plano ISD address student safety?
The safety of our students, staff and facilities is of the utmost importance. In that regard, Plano ISD has a number of programs and protocols to promote student safety and wellbeing:
- Campus Safety and Security
- School Resource Officers (SROs)
- See Something, Say Something
- Counseling Services
- Character, Attendance, and Restorative Education
Additional resources for parents:
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What if I have a concern that is not related to bullying or harassment?
Plano ISD is dedicated to working with families to resolve concerns. To that end, there is a section of the district’s website that details how to get your questions answered, provide feedback or resolve concerns in the shortest amount of time possible.
In order to expedite resolving your concerns, we encourage students and families to communicate with the appropriate teacher, principal or other campus administrator who has the authority to address the concerns.
Issues should be expressed as soon as possible to allow early resolution at the lowest possible administrative level.
Read more about resolving complaints and concerns.