Schools can achieve significant, long-term results from the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program when they have strong, ongoing commitment from school administrators, teachers, other staff and parents.
Preparing for Implementation
As you consider implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, it's important to think through the support and resources that will be needed, and whether those resources are adequately in place to make your efforts effective.
Take a look at how the program will fit with existing programs, your school's structure, and your school's needs. A general guideline is that a majority of your staff need to be actively participating in the program to make it effective.
Because the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a systemwide approach to bullying, it needs not only the support of classroom teachers, key school staff, and building administrators, but also the support of district leadership as well. District-level support may be required to ensure financial support and to reinforce implementation of the program's policies and procedures.
Next, consider the cost of implementing the program. The greatest costs are incurred during initial start-up, for committee training and materials for your staff. You will need to budget for ongoing training for new staff as they enter your school system and and other activities that will keep your staff's commitment to the program running high. Education systems change programs take time. OBPP asks for a minimal three-year commitment to make bullying prevention strategies just a part of the way your school system disciplines students and trains their staff for a safe school environment.
Sample Implementation Timeline
You should plan to spend approximately four to six months in preparation before implementing OBPP in your school. You'll create a Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee (BPCC) and prepare for implementation in consultation with your certified Olweus trainer.
The Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee will work closely with a certified Olweus trainer to create a timeline that follows an appropriate pace for your school and lets you implement the program with integrity. An optimal timeline, assuming launch at the beginning of the fall semester, may look something like this:
Other Resources
Steps to Address Bullying at Your School - Tips of School Administrators (pdf)
What should schools look for in a bullying prevention program? (pdf)
