House Bill 5707, sponsored by State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), requires all public schools to develop and implement an anti-bullying policy. The policy must include a definition of bullying, procedures for the reporting of bullying, parental notification, the investigation of reports of bullying and actions that may be taken to address bullying. The new law is effective immediately.

DEFINITION:  Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. 

Bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behavior that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. Cyberbullying refers to bullying through information and communication technologies.

Bullying can involve humiliation, domination, intimidation, victimization and all forms of harassment including that based on sex, race, disability, homosexuality or transgender. Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved including bystanders.

Bullying can happen anywhere: at school, travelling to and from school, in sporting teams, between neighbors or in the workplace.

Bullying behavior can be:

· verbal eg name calling, teasing, abuse, putdowns, sarcasm, insults, threats

· physical eg hitting, punching, kicking, scratching, tripping, spitting

· social eg ignoring, excluding, ostracizing, alienating, making inappropriate gestures

· psychological eg spreading rumors, dirty looks, hiding or damaging possessions, malicious SMS and email messages, inappropriate use of camera phones.

Conflict or fights between equals and single incidents are not defined as bullying. Bullying behaviour is not:

· children not getting along well

· a situation of mutual conflict

· single episodes of nastiness or random acts of aggression or intimidation.

PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING:   Students should report instances of bullying immediately to the person on duty.  Other than that, students may report bullying to any other certified school personnel and/or the principal either verbally or in writing.

PARENT NOTIFICATION: Parents of students that are reported to be bullying other students will be contacted via phone and/or letter.  Parents of students that are being bullied will be notified via phone and/or letter as well.

INVESTIGATION OF REPORTS OF BULLYING:  Every report of bulling will be investigated.

ACTIONS THAT MAY BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS BULLYING:  Detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion