Bullying Policy 2016/17 Reviewed 06/21/16

PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY Charter GRADE School 11000 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19116 215.676.8320 | [email protected]

BULLYING, CYBER-BULLYING, AND HARASSMENT Bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious violence. Philadelphia Academy Charter School (PACS) strives to provide a safe, positive learning climate for students. Therefore, it is the policy of PACS to maintain an educational environment in which bullying, cyber bullying and harassment in any form are not tolerated. 1. Authority All forms of bullying, cyber-bullying, and harassment by students are hereby prohibited. Anyone who engages in bullying, cyber-bullying, or harassment in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate discipline. Each student shall be responsible to respect the rights of others and to ensure an atmosphere free from bullying. Students who have been bullied, cyber-bullied, or harassed should promptly report such incidents to Philadelphia Academy Charter School Administration. Complaints of bullying, cyber-bullying, or harassment will be investigated promptly, and corrective action will be taken when a complaint is verified. Reprisals or retaliation as a result of the submission of a complaint, should they occur, will result in disciplinary action which may include expulsion. PACS will inform students annually that bullying, cyber-bullying, and harassment will not be tolerated. 2. Definition For purposes of this code, "bullying" and “harassment” shall mean an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, or a series of acts, directed at another student(s) which occurs in a school setting1 and has the effect of doing any of the following: Creating a threatening, intimidating or hostile environment Substantially interfering with a student's educational opportunities Substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school Physically, emotionally or mentally harming a student; Damaging, extorting or taking a student’s personal property; Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm; Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property; “Cyber-bullying” includes, but is not limited to harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, or terrorizing another student, teacher or employee of PACS by sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or Web site postings including but not limited to blogs, “instagram”, “twitter”, “facebook”, and “youtube”. All forms of cyber-bullying are unacceptable and, to the extent that such actions are disruptive of the educational process at PACS, offenders will be the subject of appropriate disciplinary action. The 1

School setting shall mean in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.

Bullying Policy 2016/17 Reviewed 06/21/16 terms “bullying”, “cyber-bullying”, or “harassment” will not be interpreted to infringe upon a student’s right to engage in legally protected speech or conduct. 3. Action: The school’s administration team will investigate all reports of Bullying, Cyber-Bullying, and Harassment immediately and thoroughly. Disciplinary action will be taken when allegations are verified. Confidentiality of all parties shall be maintained. If a report of bullying or harassment is made but cannot be confirmed, PACS administration will have a conference with all students involved, document the results of the conference, and issue a verbal warning where appropriate. Parents of those students involved will be called to inform them of the alleged incident. If a report is confirmed, the student(s) found to be harassing or bullying may receive up to three (3) days of out-of-school suspension for a first offense. If a student is reported for a second offense and the report is confirmed, he/she may then be referred for expulsion. A student may be suspended for up to 5 days if they are reported on 3 or more occasions, even if the reports cannot be verified. 4. Identification: If a parent would like to make a report of bullying or harassment, they should contact a member of PACS’ administration team. If a student would like to report bullying or harassment, they should notify their teacher, the Assistant Principal or another member of PACS’ administration team. When a report is made to a staff member regarding bullying or harassment, the staff member is to document the conversation and submit it to the Asst. Principal or another member of PACS’ administration. (A Bullying Notification Google Document is available for this purpose.) When a report is received, all teachers found to have knowledge pertinent to the investigation may be asked to fill out a Bullying Notification Google Document to submit to the Asst. Principal or another member of PACS’ administration team within 24 hours.

It is important that all students and parents are aware that bullying is something that will not be tolerated at PACS. Please sign this document and return it to the school to acknowledge that you have been advised of our policy in this regard. Student Name: ______________________________________ Grade: ________ Date:________________ Homeroom Teacher:__________________________________ Parent/Legal Guardian Signature:________________________________ Date: _____________________ Relationship to student: ___________________________________ The homeroom teacher will retain the form for the duration of this 2016/17 school year; it will be updated each year.