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Bullying Reporting & Info

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One of the core values at Priority Charter Schools is that we will provide every child with a safe learning environment. Therefore, bullying, as defined by this section, as well as retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is prohibited. Bullying is 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 so 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.

Priority Charter Schools also prohibits cyberbullying, which is defined as bullying through the use of electronic communication devices, including cellular or other telephones, computers, cameras, email, instant messaging, text messaging, social media applications, Internet websites, or any other Internet-based communication tool.

Priority Charter has jurisdiction over bullying when:

  • Bullying occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-related activity on or off school property;
  • Bullying occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-related activity; and
  • Cyberbullying occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related event, if the conduct interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the operations of a school, classroom, or school-related activity.

Reporting Procedures
Any student who believes that he or she has experienced any form of bullying or believes that another student has experienced bullying should:
1. Immediately report the alleged acts.

  • The student may orally report to the Superintendent or designee, a teacher, counselor, or other school employee. The student may also report via the Priority Charter Schools Tip Line at (254) 206-3848.
  • The student may submit a written report. This report will be sent to Superintendent or designee.
  • The student may submit a report by clicking the button below. This form may be done anonymously.

 

REPORT BULLYING

2. Any school employee who receives notice that a student has or may have experienced bullying shall immediately notify the Superintendent or designee.
3. The Superintendent or designee will investigate the allegations.

Investigation of Report
The Superintendent or designee shall determine whether the allegations in the report, if proven, would constitute prohibited harassment, and if so proceed under that policy instead. The Superintendent or designee shall conduct an appropriate investigation based on the allegations in the report, and shall take prompt interim action calculated to prevent hazing and/or bullying during the course of an investigation, if appropriate. The Superintendent or designee shall prepare a written report of the investigation, including a determination of whether hazing and/or bullying occurred. If the results of an investigation indicated that hazing and/or bullying occurred, the school shall promptly respond by taking appropriate disciplinary or corrective action reasonably calculated to address the conduct in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Priority Charter Schools may take action based on the results of an investigation, even if the school concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of hazing and/or bullying under this policy. The report shall also include counseling options available to the student bullied and the bully.
Discipline against a student, who after an investigation is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of the student’s use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying is prohibited.

Notice of Alleged Bullying
Priority Charter School shall contact the parent of the alleged victim of bullying on or before the third business day after the date the incident is reported. The parent of the student alleged of bullying shall be contacted within a reasonable time after the incident.

Confidentiality
To the greatest extent possible, Priority Charter Schools shall respect the privacy of the complainant, persons against whom a report is filed, and witnesses. Limited disclosures may be necessary in order to conduct a thorough investigation. Retaliation against any person, including a victim, witness, or other person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident, is strictly prohibited.

​Appeal
A student or parent who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation may appeal through the Priority Charter Schools’ grievance procedure.