Bullying Prevention Policy

Bullying is contrary to Illinois law and the policy of Latin School. Bullying will not be tolerated. This policy was drafted considering Latin’s commitment to addressing bullying and cyberbullying and in compliance with 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7, Ill. Admin. Code title 23 § 1.285 (2022), and is consistent with subsection (a-5) of 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7. Bullying will not be tolerated. This Bullying Prevention Policy is based on the engagement of a range of school stakeholders, including students and parents/guardians.

The School will determine initially whether a report of bullying is subject to this policy. Bullying falls within this policy if it occurs within one of the following four situations:

1. during any Latin-sponsored education program or activity;
2. while in school, on Latin’s property, on school buses or other school vehicles, or at Latin-sponsored or Latin-sanctioned events or activities;
3. through the transmission of information from a Latin computer or iPad, a Latin computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment; and/or
4. through the transmission of information from a computer or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by Latin that is accessed at a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the School if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of the School. This item applies only in cases in which a Latin School administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred and does not require the School to staff to monitor any non-school-related activity, function, or program.

Bullying includes cyber-bullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following: 

• Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to self or property;
• Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health;
• Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; and/or
• Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from other services, activities or privileges provided by Latin. 

Bullying usually occurs when there is an imbalance of power. Bullying often is based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, pregnancy, parenting status, homelessness, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender-related identity or expression, unfavorable discharge from military service, association with a person or group with one of these characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic.

Bullying can take many forms including, but not limited to, severe or pervasive physical violence, harassment, sexual harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, teasing and name-calling, social exclusion, and/or retaliation for complaining about bullying. This list it meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.

Cyberbullying is also a form of prohibited bullying. Cyberbullying means bullying using any form of electronic communication or technology, including but not limited to email, text messages, social media, instant messages, and any other computer or phone-based application. It includes falsely assuming another’s identity or the knowing impersonation of another individual as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the negative effects on the victim listed in the definition of bullying. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this section.

Bullying includes behavior both on and off Latin’s campus. Cyberbullying can occur at any time and its messages and images can be distributed quickly to a wide audience. However, not all social conflict constitutes bullying. For example, isolated instances of social rejection, dislike or arguing generally would not constitute bullying unless they were particularly severe. Even if a conduct incident does not meet the definition of bullying in this policy, Latin reserves the right to investigate and take corrective actions as the School considers appropriate under the circumstances.

When Latin determines that an incident of reported bullying is actionable under this policy, the incident will be addressed immediately, and parents/guardians of all students involved in the incident will be contacted by the Counselor, Dean of Students, or Division Director depending on the specific Division within 24 hours after Latin’s administration is made aware of the students’ involvement. In addition, Latin will notify parents/guardians of all threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm that are determined to be the result of bullying within 24 hours after Latin’s administration is made aware of the students’ involvement in the incident.

Latin will make diligent efforts to notify parents/guardians utilizing all contact information Latin has available or that can be reasonably obtained by Latin within the 24-hour period. The Divisional support team will discuss with parents/guardians and make recommendations for specific interventions to stop, prevent and remedy bullying, such as school counseling services, restorative measures, social-emotional learning (SEL) support, or community-based services. The Counselors will provide the involved students (and their parent/guardian members, if appropriate) with information regarding counseling and support services provided at Latin as well as providing referrals for outside professional social work and counseling services.

“Restorative measures” means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the School and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, parents/guardians, schools, and communities, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’ behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Consequences for violations of this policy, including incidents of retaliation for those reporting bullying or participating in a bullying investigation, will be determined by the School, taking into account a variety of factors such as the severity of the behavior and the age(s) of the student(s) involved. Consequences may include, but are not limited to: 

• Parent/guardian, teacher and/or administrator conference to review a student’s conduct and explanation of expectations for the student’s future behavior;
• Creation of behavior plan/contract with the intention to correct behavior;
• Immediate removal from the classroom;
• In-School suspension;
• Out-of-School suspension;
• Behavioral probation;
• Restorative measures or remedial requirements, such as apologies, reflections and restitution; and/or
• Expulsion 

Making a good faith complaint of bullying (including cyberbullying and harassment) will not prejudice an individual’s future at Latin, even if the complaint cannot be substantiated. However, any person found to have made a false or unsubstantiated report of bullying as a means of bullying, reprisal or retaliation will face appropriate disciplinary consequences as determined by the School, including the consequences listed above. 

There will be a prompt investigation of all actionable reports of bullying, including the following:

• Making all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10 school days after the date the report of the incident of bullying was received and taking into consideration additional relevant information received during the investigation about the reported incident of bullying;

• Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff persons with knowledge, experience, and training on bullying prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation process;

• Notifying the Head of School or a designee of the report of the incident of bullying as soon as possible after the report is received; and

• Consistent with rules governing student privacy rights, providing parents/guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation information about the investigation and an opportunity to meet with the Head of School or a designee to discuss the investigation, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to address the reported incident of bullying.

At least every two years, Latin reviews and re-evaluates our Bullying Prevention Policy to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the policy and make any necessary or appropriate revisions. Our review includes, but is not limited to, factors such as the frequency of victimization; student, staff, and parent/guardian 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. This policy will be updated in accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education’s guidance and template when that is released and available.