Colorado Model Bullying Prevention and Education Policy

Overview

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is authorized by C.R.S. 22-2-144, also known as "Ashawnty's Law," with developing a model bullying prevention and education policy (Model Policy). The purpose of the Model Policy is to provide guidance to school districts, charter schools, and the Charter School Institute when developing bullying prevention and education policies. As per the law, the development of the Model Policy is informed by research on the approaches, policies, and practices related to bullying prevention and education used by education providers in other states. CDE is required to update the research and policy every three years.

In 2021, the Colorado Legislature passed HB 21-1221, also known as "Jack and Cait's Law." This law requires CDE to use a stakeholder process when updating the Model Policy and that parents of students who have been bullied must be included in the process. Additionally, this law states that the policy concerning bullying prevention and education for all school districts in Colorado "shall ensure that the school district's policy, at a minimum, incorporates approaches, policies, and practices outlined in the model bullying prevention and education policy developed pursuant to section 22-2-144." 

Model Policy

The Colorado Model Bullying Prevention and Education Policy can be found in the Colorado Bullying Prevention and Education Best Practices and Model Policy document below. The use of a best practices guide is an approach taken by many states to provide evidence-based resources to put the model policy in context. Additional bullying prevention resources can be found on the CDE Bullying Prevention Resources web page. 

• 2022 Colorado Bullying Prevention and Education Best Practices and Model Policy (Doc)
• 2022 Colorado Bullying Prevention and Education Best Practices and Model Policy (PDF)

Jack and Cait's Law (HB 21-1221) Stakeholder Committee

Selected Members

A total of 16 stakeholders were selected to participate in the Model Policy revision process including 4 parents of students who have experienced bullying, 3 students, 4 community members, and 5 educational organization members. In addition, the stakeholder committee includes CDE's School Climate Transformation Specialist and the School Safety Regional Training Consultant from the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.

Purpose

The Colorado Legislature passed Jack and Cait’s Law (HB 21-1221) and it was signed into law on June 7, 2021. The law, in part, requires CDE to utilize a stakeholder process when updating the Model Policy (SB 18-151) and that the stakeholder committee must include participation by the parents of students who have been bullied. The purpose of the stakeholder committee is to fulfill the above requirement of Jack and Cait’s Law (HB 21-1221).

Timeline and Application Process

CDE solicited stakeholder participation through an online application process. Applicants were required to demonstrate their willingness to serve and their connection to bullying. The application asked applicants for information regarding their demographics and experience with bullying. Application requirements were submitted online through SurveyMonkey. Only complete applications were considered.

Applications underwent a blind-review process that considered only the applicants’ non-identifying responses. The CDE scored applications based on overall strength, diversity of experiences with bullying, and coverage of geographic areas. Applications were reviewed by a diverse group of employees from the CDE Office of Learning Supports (OLS) including the Director and the Statewide Bullying Prevention Manager.

The CDE sought a minimum of 6 stakeholders including but not limited to:

• Parents of students who have been bullied (minimum of 2)
• Colorado public education students who have been involved in bullying
• Members of a community organization
• Members of an educational organization (e.g., Colorado Association of School Boards, districts, and schools)

Stakeholders were tasked with collaboratively updating the Model Policy. Applicants must have been able to serve for the duration of the revision process. Committee work commenced in October 2021 and concluded in December 2021. In addition, committee members agreed to and were responsible for the following:

• Participating in all meetings (2)
• Completing between-meeting homework
• Meeting all deadlines
• The revision process outlined on this website

Revision Process

The revision process took place over the course of several months and two meetings. During the first stakeholder committee meeting, suggestions were solicited for how to improve and update the Model Policy. The CDE revised the Model Policy, in part, based on these suggestions and provide stakeholders with a draft of the new Model Policy. Stakeholders then had several weeks to provide further suggestions. During the final stakeholder committee meeting, the CDE presented the revised Model Policy to the stakeholders and considered any final suggestions.

The final revised Model Policy was published on CDE’s website on February 21, 2022.

Timeline

• August 25 – September 10
  • Interested stakeholders must submit their application by 11:59pm on Friday, September 10 using SurveyMonkey.
• September 2021
  • CDE notifies applicants on the final status of their application.
• October 2021
  • First stakeholder meeting takes place.
• November 2021
  • Stakeholders provide feedback on revised Model Policy.
• December 2021
  • Final stakeholder meeting takes place.
• February 21, 2022
  • Revised Model Policy published on the OLS website.

CDE is no longer accepting applications to be a member of the stakeholder committee. You can view the stakeholder application items by clicking on the button below.

View Application Items

Contact
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please send an email to: ModelPolicyFeedback@cde.state.co.us