Per our Student Handbook (Page 28):

Bullying (All Grade Levels):

Bullying is defined in state law 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; Milford Student Handbook 29.
Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school.
Infringes on the rights of the victim at school. Bullying includes cyber-bullying. Cyber-bullying is defined by state law as bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an internet website, or any other internet-based communication tool. The district is required to adopt policies and procedures regarding:
- Bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school sponsored 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.
Cyber-bullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school related activity if the cyber-bullying interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

Bullying is prohibited by the district and could include hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, confinement, assault, demands for money, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, name-calling, rumour spreading, or ostracism.

If a student believes that he or she has experienced bullying or has witnessed bullying of another student, it is important for the student or parent to notify a teacher, school counselor, principal, or another district employee as soon as possible to obtain assistance and intervention. The administration will investigate any allegations of bullying or other related misconduct. The district will also provide notice to the parent of the alleged victim and the parent of the student alleged to have engaged in bullying.

If the results of an investigation indicate that bullying has occurred, the administration will take appropriate disciplinary action and may notify law enforcement in certain circumstances. Disciplinary or other action may be taken even if the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying. Available counseling options will be provided to these individuals, as well as to any students who have been identified as witnesses to the bullying.

Any retaliation against a student who reports an incident of bullying is prohibited.

Upon the recommendation of the administration, the board may, in response to an identified case of bullying, decide to transfer a student found to have engaged in bullying to another classroom at the campus. In consultation with the student’s parent, the student may also be transferred to another campus in the district. The parent of a student who has been determined by the district to be a victim of bullying may request that the student be transferred to another classroom or campus within the district. [See Safety Transfers/Assignments on page 80 .]

A copy of the district’s policy is available in the principal’s office, superintendent’s office, and on the district’s website, and is included at the end of this handbook in the form of an Milford Student Handbook 30 appendix. Procedures related to reporting allegations of bullying may also be found on the district’s website. A student or parent who is dissatisfied with the outcome of an investigation may appeal through policy FNG(LOCAL). [See Safety Transfers/Assignments on page 80, Dating Violence, Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation on page 36, Hazing on page 57, policy FFI, the district’s Student Code of Conduct, and the district improvement plan, a copy of which can be viewed in the campus office.]

Milford ISD

Bullying

What Does the Law Say?

The new laws highlight eight (8) required elements that the Board of Trustees has adopted concerning bullying. These eight elements had to include policies and procedures that:

How Can Milford ISD Help My Child?

How Can I Report Bullying?

Milford ISD Bullying and Harassment