Anti-Bullying Policy

Respect for All: Preventing and Addressing Student-to-Student Discrimination, Sexual and Other Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

New York City Public Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment that is free from harassment, intimidation and/or bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination on account of actual or perceived race, color, age, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight.

Respect for All Week

During Respect for All Week, February 10 -14, 2025, schools across the city will have the opportunity to highlight and build upon ongoing programs to help students, staff, and communities gain a better understanding of diversity. Schools also started new initiatives that promote respect for diversity and focus on preventing bullying, intimidation, and bias-based harassment. Your child's school was also encouraged to promote acceptance and understanding through theme-based lessons and activities. Suggested themes included:

• Celebrating Kindness/Be an Ally
• Anti-Bullying/ Cyberbullying
• Respect for Diversity, Disability, Religious Acceptance and Racial Diversity
• Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, LGBTQ Pride and Acceptance
• Friday, February 14, 2025

Respect for All is our system-wide response to bullying and harassment. We are committed to keeping our schools safe, supportive, and free from discrimination.

Respect for All Family Resource

Access Family Resource Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions:

English

English FAQ →

Spanish

Spanish FAQ →

Bullying includes but is not limited to:

• Physical violence
• Stalking
• Verbal or physical conduct that threatens another with harm; recruiting others
• Threats, hazing, taunting, aggressive, or menacing gestures;
• Exclusion from peer groups designed to humiliate or isolate;
• Using derogatory language or making derogatory jokes or name calling to humiliate or harass
• Posting or electronically circulating written or graphic material that is derogatory toward others (cyberbullying)
• Deliberately using a name, mispronouncing a name or using a pronoun in a manner that discriminates, harasses, bullies, or intimidates based on a student's actual or perceived race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability or weight.

What You Can Do About Bullying…

…If Your Child is the Target

• Report the incident to your school's Respect for All (RFA) liaison(s) and/or school administration.
• Ask for the incident number from school administration for follow up. This is also known as Online Occurrence Reporting System (OORS) number.
• The school will investigate and must tell the parent or guardian of the target what they find. If needed, the child may be referred for support services.
• If the investigation finds that a student—or students—have been bullying or harassing your child, the school will follow the process described in the Discipline Code.

The NYCDOE Discipline Code includes, but is not limited to:

• Any student who engages in bullying may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
• Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee.
• Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.
• If the complainant student or the parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached, the student or the parent of the student should contact the principal or District 29 Office of Student Services. The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint process.

The procedures for intervening in bullying behavior include, but are not limited, to the following:

• All staff, students and their parents will receive a summary of this policy prohibiting intimidation and bullying as part of the school system's notification to parents.
• The school will make reasonable efforts to keep a report of bullying and the results of investigation confidential.
• Staff who witness acts of bullying shall take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. People witnessing or experiencing bullying are strongly encouraged to report the incident; such reporting will not reflect on the target or witnesses in any way.

The NYCDOE Discipline Code includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Students are to resolve their disputes without resorting to violence.
• Students, especially those trained in conflict resolution and peer mediation, are encouraged to help fellow students resolve problems peaceably.
• Students can rely on staff trained in conflict resolution and peer mediation strategies to intervene in any dispute likely to result in violence.
• Students needing help in resolving a disagreement, or students observing conflict may contact an adult or peer mediators.
• Students involved in a dispute will be referred to a conflict resolution or peer mediation session with trained adult or peer mediators. Staff and mediators will keep the discussions confidential.
• Conflict resolution procedures shall not supplant the authority of staff to act to prevent violence, ensure campus safety, maintain order, and discipline students.