D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 4, r. 15-1502

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 15-1502 - ADOPTION OF A BULLYING PREVENTION POLICY

1502.1

Bullying means any severe, pervasive, or persistent act or conduct, whether physical, electronic, written or verbal that:

(a) May be based on a youth's actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intellectual ability, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, place of residence or business, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or on a youth's association with a person or group with any person, with one or more of the actual or perceived foregoing characteristics; and

(b) Can reasonably be predicted to:

(1) Place the youth in reasonable fear of physical harm to his or her person or property;

(2) Cause a substantial detrimental effect on the youth's physical or mental health;

(3) Substantially interfere with the youth's academic performance or attendance; or

(4) Substantially interfere with the youth's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a covered entity.

1502.2

(a) If a covered entity wishes to update its bullying prevention policy, it shall do so before the beginning of a school year, and provide a copy of the updated policy to OHR by August 15.

(b) Each covered entity shall review its list of Point of Contacts annually and provide an updated list of Point of Contacts to OHR by August 15 of each year.

(c) Newly authorized charter schools or newly established youth organizations that receive funding from the District must adopt a bullying prevention policy (including a Point of Contact) within three months of their opening and provide the policy to the BPP Director.

1502.3

A covered entity's bullying prevention policy shall at a minimum include the following elements:

(a) The legal definition of bullying set forth above;

(b) A statement prohibiting bullying, including cyberbullying;

(c) A statement prohibiting retaliation against a victim or witness of bullying, or a person who reports bullying;

(d) A statement that the policy applies at all of the locations listed in § 1501;

(e) A code of conduct;

(f) A list of consequences that can result from an identified incident of bullying that are designed to:

(1) Appropriately correct the behavior deemed to be bullying;

(2) Prevent future occurrences of bullying or retaliation;

(3) Ensure the safety and well-being of the person who has reportedly experienced or is reportedly at risk for future acts of bullying or retaliation; and

(4) Be flexible in application, appropriate to the individual incident, and varied in method and severity based on the:

(A) Nature of the incident;

(B) Developmental age of the person exhibiting bullying behaviors; and

(C) Any history of problem behavior of all students involved in the incident(s) and where available, history of behavioral concerns documented in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan as a result of a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), approved Dec. 3, 2004 (118 Stat. 2647; 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.) or Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, approved Sept. 26, 1973 (87 Stat. 394; 29 U.S.C. § 794) .

(g) A mechanism and procedures for staff, students, parents/guardians, and others to report bullying, retaliation for reporting bullying, or other violations of the bullying prevention policy that permits anonymous reporting, provided however, that no formal response shall be taken solely on the basis of anonymous reporting;

(h) A procedure for prompt investigation of reports of bullying, retaliation, or other violations of the bullying prevention policy that identifies the name and contact information for the person(s) responsible for investigating bullying and retaliation;

(i) A secondary investigation appeal process, consistent with § 1506, for a person accused of bullying or a person who is the target of bullying or retaliation who is not satisfied with the outcome of an initial investigation under § 1505; and

(j) A statement that retaliation against any person for reporting an incident of bullying is prohibited and a description of the possible consequences for a person who engages in retaliatory behavior.

1502.4

Each covered entity's bullying prevention policy shall apply at the following locations:

(a) On the covered entity's property, including buildings, fields, parking lots, and walkways;

(b) At events sponsored by the covered entity, including sponsored events held off the property of the covered entity;

(c) On any vehicle used for transportation by or on behalf of the covered entity, including transportation for sponsored events of youth; and

(d) At any transit stop at which youth wait to be transported to the covered entity or an event sponsored by the covered entity.

1502.5

Each covered entity's bullying prevention policy shall apply to cyberbullying sent from or to someone at a location listed in § 1502.4, whether or not the communications device is owned or leased by the covered entity. Cyberbullying is defined as any bullying done through electronic means which meets the definition in § 1502.1, including, but not limited to, social media, electronic mail (email), texting or tweeting.

1502.6

Bullying which occurs on-site, but involves off-site activities, is prohibited if it creates a hostile environment at the covered entity for the target or witnesses of bullying, or impedes or interferes with a youth's ability to participate at the covered entity.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 4, r. 15-1502

Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 9390 (7/8/2016)