Bullying, Harassment, Hate-Bias or Intimidation Reporting
Overview (scroll down to access form): Plano ISD unequivocally rejects antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate, and takes any allegation of discrimination with the utmost seriousness. We do not tolerate antisemitic, racist or hateful behavior; any such acts are reprehensible and will be addressed to the fullest extent of the law.
Filing a Report
District policy protects students from bullying, cyberbullying, hate-bias, racism, intimidation and prohibited harassment including sexual harassment and dating violence. All claims of bullying, cyberbullying, hate-bias, racism, intimidation and prohibited harassment including sexual harassment and dating violence are taken seriously. The district will handle and respond to every allegation and complaint filed in a fair, thorough and just manner. Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the due process rights of all complainants and respondents.
Directions
The reporting form below may be used to report allegations of bullying, cyberbullying, hate-bias, racism, intimidation or prohibited harassment including sexual harassment and dating violence so that school officials may investigate and take appropriate steps.
Please complete the form, providing as much detailed information as possible, so that the complaint may be properly investigated. It is important that the facts are accurately and completely reported and that the complainant cooperates fully with the persons designated to investigate the complaint.
Where to File
Complaint forms will be available from all administrators as well as online. Once completed, the principal, designee or Title IX coordinator (if applicable) will handle all complaints.
Confidentiality
To conduct this investigation in a confidential manner, the school will disclose the contents of the complaint only to those persons who have a need to know. In signing the complaint form, the complainant authorizes the school to disclose the information provided, as needed, regarding the complaint. The complaint form will not be shown to the respondent, unless required by law.
Retaliation Prohibited
The district prohibits retaliation by a student or district employee against a student alleged to have experienced bullying, cyberbullying, hate-bias, racism, intimidation and prohibited harassment including sexual harassment and dating violence or another student who, in good faith, makes a report, files a complaint, serves as a witness, or participates in an investigation. The definition of prohibited retaliation under this policy also includes retaliation against a student who refuses to participate in any manner in an investigation under Title IX.
Important Definitions
Bullying: 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.
Cyberbullying: Bullying transmitted by means of personal mobile devices through electronic communication that allows individuals to view or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting or sharing personal or private information about someone causing embarrassment or humiliation. 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.
Hate-Bias Incident: In a school setting, is any act, behavior or expression – whether verbal, written, physical or digital – that is motivated by bias or prejudice against an individual or group based on actual or perceived characteristics such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender or disability.
Harassment: Defined as physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct based on the student’s race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis prohibited by law, when the conduct is so severe, persistent or pervasive that the conduct:
- Affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile or offensive educational environment;
- Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student’s academic performance; or
- Otherwise adversely affects the student’s educational opportunities.
Harassment includes dating violence as defined by law and board policy.
Reporting Form
Required