Bullying Resources for Parents

Parents can become involved in reducing aggressive behaviors and creating safer environments for their children at home and at school. Parents are encouraged to become familiar with their school handbooks, bullying, discipline, and technology policies to gain knowledge of their school’s response to bullying behavior .

A partnership between parents and the school to prevent bullying behaviors is based on a shared understanding of bullying, policies of the school, and basic intervention strategies.

• Concerns about bullying issues at school can generally be addressed when parents talk with the classroom teacher, school counselor or building administrator.

• When reporting incidents of bullying to your school, it is helpful to provide a clear and detailed description of what has been observed or experienced.

• Ensure to address any other specific concerns, specially if your student is being targeted due to a disability or a protected status.

• When creating a plan with your school, it is important to include your student and follow their lead.

• Bullying behavior occurs across multiple platforms. Parents should be aware of the different activities their students are involved in. This includes a student’s presence on online platforms, which include social media, gaming, and other forms of communication.

• Often, kids who are victims of cyberbullying don’t tell adults and suffer alone. It is important to notice changes in your student’s behavior and initiate conversations on how you can support them.

• If your student is perpetrating bullying, work with the school to identify the reason(s) they are bullying others.  Develop a plan with your school to address their behavior and teach alternative behaviors. (If a student has a disability, determine if their behavior is a result of their disability and work with your special education administrators to develop a plan).

Refer to the school district’s  bullying policy and reporting procedures for guidance on the local process to make a report. If that is not available, typically the following procedure is appropriate. Generally, reporting bullying behaviors to the school begins with the classroom teacher or building administrator and proceeds to the next contacts only if the issue is not resolved.

1. Report to the classroom teacher, school counselor and/or the building administrator (principal)

2. Report to the district superintendent

3. Report to the district school board

4. Contact the Nebraska Department of Education School Safety for complaints (402-471-0986)

If the bullying behavior involves criminal conduct (theft, assault, battery, threats, etc.), use the following reporting procedure in addition to notification to the school.

1. Report to local law enforcement

2. Contact the county attorney

How to report cyberbullying or inappropriate content to specific websites/apps:

https://cyberbullying.org/report

Additional information and resources for parents:

https://www.stopbullying.gov/get-help-now/index.html

https://cehs.unl.edu/empowerment

Bullying – AbilityPath

PTA Connected

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center

Nebraska Mental Health:

https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Family-Helpline.aspx

https://www.lincolnfoodbank.org/services/mylnk-app/

https://www.education.ne.gov/csss/school-mental-health/