• Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important District goals.

    Bullying, intimidation or harassment of a student or staff member for any reason, including, but not limited to, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge status from the military service, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic through, but not limited to, verbal comments, racial, ethnic, religious or other slurs or threats, physical gestures or actions, the use of email, websites, social networking sites, voice mail, or any other verbal, written or electronic communication, is prohibited in each of the following situations:

    • During any school-sponsored education program or activity.

    • While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities.

    • Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.

    • Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a nonschool-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the School District or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This paragraph (item #4) applies only when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to monitor any non- school-related activity, function, or program.

    Definitions from Section 27.23.7 of the School Code 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7
    Bullying includes cyberbullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

    • Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property;

    • Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health;

    • Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or

    • Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school. 

    Bullying may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and not exhaustive.

    Cyber-bullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyber-bullying includes the creation of a webpage or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyber-bullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.

    Restorative measures means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, and (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’ behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act.

    School personnel means persons employed by, on contract with, or who volunteer in a school district, including without limitation school and school district administrators, teachers, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, school resource officers, and security guards.

    (Additional information can be found in Policy 7:180)


    Reporting Bullying in Indian Prairie School District #204

    Bullying, intimidation and harassment is not permitted in IPSD #204. This following information is intended to explain the district’s expectations for reporting bullying.


    Who reports?

    YOU, if you have information about bullying, harassment, and/or a threat of one of these actions. It doesn’t matter whether you are the target of bullying or think someone is being bullied, please report it!


    What do I report?

    Any activity that targets someone to be hurt. Bullying, harassment, and threats take many forms. One thing they have in common – someone is targeted to be hurt. Examples of these hurtful behaviors include unwanted teasing, intimidation, physical violence, humiliation, spreading false rumors, social exclusion, or theft or destruction of property.
    Bullying, harassment, and threats may occur almost anywhere students go – in school buildings, on school grounds or buses, at bus stops, for example. Bullying or harassing may also occur using social networking sites or cell phones.


    When should I report?

    As soon as possible.


    Where or how do I report?

    Tell ANY school staff member. You may do this in person, by phone, or by email. You may be asked to complete the IPSD #204 Report of Bullying Form.
    In the event of an emergency or a situation that may escalate into an emergency, please contact 911 immediately. For all other matters, our commitment is to respond to your submission within 24 hours, provided it is received during our regular operating hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Please note the following:

    • Submissions received on Fridays after 4:00 p.m. through Monday at 7:29 a.m. will be addressed within 24 hours from the opening of the next business day at 7:30 a.m.

    • If a submission is made when the district is closed, including holidays and weekends, you can expect a response within 24 hours from the opening at 7:30 a.m. of the next business day.

    Should the matter be urgent or potentially lead to an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 911.


    Why should I report?

    Fear and abuse have no place in our school. Be a hero and report bullying. If you are being bullied, a report will help you and other students who may also be targeted for bullying.


    What will happen after I report?

    An Administrator will:

    • Acknowledge and review your report.

    • Treat your report with privacy and respect its sensitive nature.

    • Investigate your report. The school will not bring students who bully and those they bully into the same room to confront each other. All interviews will be private.

    • Take appropriate action that may include increased monitoring and supervision, restructuring schedules, additional resources, and disciplinary action for conduct code violations, among others.

    • Provide you with feedback, if appropriate.

    Please note the following:

    • Submissions received on Fridays after 4:00 p.m. through Monday at 7:29 a.m. will be addressed within 24 hours from the opening of the next business day at 7:30 a.m.

    • If a submission is made when the district is closed, including holidays and weekends, you can expect a response within 24 hours from the opening at 7:30 a.m. of the next business day.

    Should the matter be urgent or potentially lead to an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 911.