It's July 1: Do Your Anti-Bullying Policies Comply With The Law?

As of July 1, 2012, AB 9 requires that all school district anti-harassment/anti-discrimination board policies must include language prohibiting the intimidation and bullying based on the actual or perceived characteristics as set forth in Education Code 220. 

AB 9 also requires districts to have a complaint procedure in place for responding to allegations of bullying.

Do your board policies comply with the requirements set forth in AB 9?  If not, now is the time to revise them!

For past coverage of AB 9 and its requirements, please click here.

Heads Up! Revise Your District’s Anti-Harassment Policies to Include Anti-Bullying By July 2012

AB 9, which amends and adds to Education Code section 234 et seq., requires school district policies to prohibit discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying based on the actual or perceived characteristics set forth in Education Code section 220 (including disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation). Existing law requires district policies to address discrimination and harassment – as of July 1, 2012, these policies also have to explicitly address intimidation and bullying based on perceived characteristics. The policies must also include a statement that they apply to all acts related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of the school district.

AB 9 also sets forth a more detailed process for dealing with complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying based on perceived protected characteristics. The complaint process must include, but is not limited to:

1. A requirement that school personnel must take immediate steps to intervene, when safe, if they witness an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying.

2. A timeline to investigate and resolve complaints.

3. An appeal process.

4. Forms developed pursuant to this process must be translated.

These policies must be publicized to students, parents, employees, agents of the governing board, and to the general public.

Districts should examine their existing anti-harassment policies and make sure they comply with the new requirements of AB 9 before July 1, 2012.

The chaptered bill can be accessed here.

Meghan Covert Russell