Bullying and Violence Prevention

Bullying is Defined

“Bullying” means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that may address an attribute of the other student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated and that causes or creates actual or reasonably foreseeable:

Physical harm to a public school employee or student or damage to the public school employee's or student's property;
Substantial interference with a student's education or with a public school employee's role in education;
A hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students or public school employees due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act; or
Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the public school or educational environment.

“Bullying” includes cyberbullying

“Cyberbullying” means any form of communication by electronic act that is sent with the purpose to:

Harass, intimidate, humiliate, ridicule, defame, or threaten a student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated; or
Incite violence against a student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated;

A.C.A §6-18-514(b)(1-6):

Bullying is Intentional

The physical, social, and emotional well-being of students can be impacted by unwanted aggressive behavior or bullying.

In accordance with A.C.A. § 6-18-514, all public school students have the right to receive their education in an environment that is reasonably free from substantial intimidation, harassment, or harm or threat of harm by another student, in person or by electronic means.

Legislation

Act 190 – School Counseling Improvement Act of 2019 addresses the school counselor’s role in bullying prevention, training and protocols in schools.

Act 1029 – This act amends previous anti-bullying legislation and addresses anti-bullying continuing education, notice procedures and reporting requirements.

Guidance in Addressing School Bullying

The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) developed the following guidance on bullying prevention, as required by Act 1029 in consultation with state agencies, school personnel, advocacy organizations, and other interested parties to support public school districts and public charter schools in addressing the issue of school bullying.

DESE Bullying Prevention Guidance (in English) (en español)

Download the Bullying Prevention Roles Visual (PDF) or click on the image below.

To support Arkansas schools and school districts, the DESE is providing links to a selection of resources available that are free to Arkansas educators.

Prevent Bullying and Cyberbullying
https://www.schoolsafety.gov/prevent/bullying-and-cyberbullying

Stop Bullying
http://www.stopbullying.gov/

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
http://www.samhsa.gov/

SAMHSA Bullying App
https://store.samhsa.gov/product/knowbullying

National Crime Prevention Council
https://www.ncpc.org/resources/bullying/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - School Violence: Prevention Tools and Resources
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/schoolviolence/tools.html