Laws/Regulations

Federal and state laws, as well as local school policies exist to protect students from bullying and harassment. Each school district is required, by law, to have policies and practices in place as well as designated individuals to handle complaints. There are two major legislative acts, and a key federal law that are relevant:

• Public Act No. 19-166 - An Act Concerning School Climates

  • Updated Definitions
  • Model School Climate Policy *NOT updated with 19-166 definitions
  • Suicide Screening Resources
  • School Climate Survey Resources
    • CSDE School Climate Assessment Instruments (CSCAI)
      • Letter to Superintendents (July 1, 2012)
      • Early Elementary School (Grades K-3)
      • Elementary School/Middle School (Grades 4-8)
      • Middle School/High School (Grades 5-12)
      • Parents
      • Staff
    • School Climate Survey Compendium

• Public Act No. 21-95 - An Act Concerning Assorted Revisions and Additions to the Education Statutes

  • Social-Emotional Learning Assessment
  • K-3 Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Habits Documents

• Public Act No. 11-232 - An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying Laws

• PowerPoint Presentation on Public Act No. 11-232 - An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying Laws
• CT Association of Schools bullying resources and documents
• Directory of Connecticut-Based Anti-Bias and Anti-Bullying Programs. Produced by the Connecticut Safe School Coalition this directory lists some of the major programs available in Connecticut.

• Pubic Act No. 11-55 - An Act Concerning Discrimination

  • Guidelines for Connecticut Schools to Comply with Gender Identity and Expression Non-Discrimination Laws - PA 11-55. Produced by the CONNECTICUT SAFE SCHOOL COALITION this guideline provides information and guidance to students, parents and school faculty and staff on the rights, responsibilities and best educational and employment practices for transgender and gender non-conforming students.
  • Best Practices for Serving Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students in Schools - Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Policy Committee - http://www.masstpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/MTPC-2013-K-12-Best-Practices.pdf

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

• "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal assistance."
• Directory of CT Title IX/Equity Coordinators

Your Right to Form a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)

• Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and similar student-initiated groups addressing Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender (LGBT)  issues can play an important role in promoting safer schools and creating more welcoming learning environments. Nationwide, students are forming these groups in part to combat bullying and harassment of LGBT students and to promote understanding and respect in the school community. Although the efforts of these groups focus primarily on the needs of LGBT students, students who have LGBT family members and friends, and students who are perceived to be LGBT, messages of respect, tolerance, and inclusion benefit all our students. By encouraging dialogue and providing supportive resources, these groups can help make schools safe and affirming environments for everyone.

On October 26, 2010 the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights issued a very significant "Dear Colleague" letter. This letter emphasized "that some student misconduct that falls under a school’s anti-bullying policy also may trigger responsibilities under one or more of the federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR)... by limiting its response to a specific application of its anti-bullying disciplinary policy, a school may fail to properly consider whether the student misconduct also results in discriminatory harassment."

The letter responds to recent, high-profile instances of bullying and harassment that led to student suicides and OCR’s year-long review of federal antidiscrimination statutes, regulations, and case law. The letter warns that school districts that fail to appropriately identify, thwart, and remedy bullying and harassment risk violating federal civil rights laws and losing federal funds. The full text of this letter, along with a fact sheet can be found here.

The Letter clarifies that bullying is form of harassment when based on protected characteristic. Protections exist under Title IX and anti-gay harassment is often covered by Title IX.