Bullying Prevention

Definitions:

• Bullying Prevention indicates whether or not the school uses any evidence-based bullying prevention programs
• Olweus Bully Prevention indicates whether or not the school uses Olweus Bully Prevention Program (BPP) as an evidence-based bullying prevention program
• Second Step indicates whether or not the school uses Second Step as an evidence-based bullying program
• Other Bullying Program indicates whether or not the school uses another bullying program as an evidence-based bullying program and if yes, which program is used
• Biennial Survey indicates whether or not the school administers a survey to students at least every other year on how frequently they perceive themselves to be a target of bullying and a witness to bullying
• Bullying Prevention Team indicates whether or not the school has a team of persons who advise the school administration concerning the severity and frequency of bullying incidents that occur in the school.
• Consequences indicates whether or not the school sets forth appropriate disciplinary consequences for students who bully other students and for any person who takes retaliatory action against a student who reports an incident of bullying
• Facing History Ourselves indicates whether or not the school uses Facing History and Ourselves as an evidence-based bullying prevention program.

Legislation:

Colorado has been a leader in bullying prevention with the passage of legislation to help schools and districts reduce bullying incidents. The legislature passed the Concerning Measures to Reduce the Frequency of Bullying in Schools Act, creating a state-funded grant program to prevent bullying in Colorado schools. Since 2016, the School Bullying Prevention and Education Grant Program (BPEG) has distributed nearly $2 million each year to grantee schools to help reduce bullying across the state. In 2018, the legislature passed Ashawnty's Law, and later updated that law with Jack and Cait's Law to improve bullying prevention policy at the district level. These laws tasked CDE with creating a Model Policy for Bullying Prevention and Education which includes research-based guidance for Colorado districts.