Bullying/Harassment
16 VSA 11 (2004) defines bullying" and harassment" in the school setting.
16 VSA 1161(a) (2004) requires each school to adopt a plan for responding to student misbehavior including a description of behaviors on and off school grounds which constitute misconduct, including harassment, bullying, and hazing, as defined in 16 VSA 11 (2004).
Act 117 (2004) requires the commissioner of education to update and distribute a model school plan on student discipline. The model plan must address the following: (1) a prohibition against bullying, (2) enable anonymous reporting, (3) enable parents or guardians to file reports of suspected bullying, (4) require staff to report suspected incidents, (5) require administrators to investigate any reports, (6) include an intervention strategy for school staff to deal with bullying, (7) require parental notification of acts against students, (8) require data collection of reported and verified incidents. The Model Bullying Prevention Plan (2004) can be found here.
16 VSA 565 states that bullying and harassment have no place and will not be tolerated in Vermont schools. Each school board must develop, adopt, ensure enforcement of, and make available harassment and hazing prevention policies.
Cyber Bullying
No state policy.
Hazing
16 VSA 565 states that hazing has no place and will not be tolerated in Vermont schools. Each school board must develop, adopt, ensure enforcement of, and make available harassment and hazing prevention policies.
Source: National Association of State Boards of Education
Last Updated: 7/12/2009
