Continuing Implementation of the Changes in the Bullying Statute

As we discussed previously here, PA 103-47 made changes in the bullying statute effective for the 2023-2024 school year, including changes in the timeline for parental notification requirements (within 24 hours), among other things.

This statute also required ISBE to update and revise its model bullying policy by January 1, 2024, and ISBE has done so. The updated policy, which each school district should review and ensure that their handbooks and policies are consistent, is available here. Please pay careful attention to these changes as your schools update their handbooks ahead of the 2024-2025 school year.

The changes in this statute also clarified (and thereby emphasized) the requirement that the school district’s bullying policies be on the school’s “publicly accessible” website and included in the handbook. Also, as part of the process of reviewing and reevaluating the bullying policy, the School Code requires that the district engage in a policy evaluation process to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the policy that includes, but is not limited to, factors such as the frequency of victimization; student, staff, and family observations of safety at a school; identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs; the types of bullying utilized; and bystander intervention or participation. The information developed as a result of the policy evaluation must be made available on the website of the school.

When dealing with allegations of bullying and harassment, these basic legal requirements – such as having the correct policy on the website and in the handbook – are essential. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has reminded schools to ensure that websites and handbooks are updated promptly and that outdated policies and procedures are removed and no longer accessible on your website.