School Districts Bullying Resources
Schoolwide Bullying Prevention
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has published a framework for school-wide bullying prevention (PDF). This evidence-based framework outlines priorities for schools wishing to tighten bullying prevention strategies. A bullying prevention and intervention plan adopted by the district might include specific behavior programs, forms used, philosophies of interactions, curriculum, or basic protocols. Effective anti-bullying programs or curricula implement a scope and sequence of knowledge and skills to be learned by all students and require school-wide involvement and support.
The following paper contains a list of practical ways to improve the school climate and ultimately reduce bullying involvement: Voight, A. & Nation, M. (2016) Practices for improving secondary school climate: a systematic review of the research literature. American Journal of Community Psychology, 58, 174-191, DOI: 101002/AJCP.12074
- Activating and empowering the bystanders/witnesses through education about bullying and practice (role plays) in intervening is the most impactful intervention.
- Group training for bystanders includes emphasizing that there is strength in numbers and that permission is given with the expectation of intervening respectfully and safely or reporting the bullying behaviors.
- Determining specific bystander interventions depends on analyzing the level of risk of a particular bullying situation.
- Victims of bullying must be supported by a third party and have their reports taken seriously.
- Victim support systems typically teach prosocial skills, problem-solving, assertiveness, and emotional regulation skills.
- Interventions for victims may be done one-on-one or in a support group.
- Victims should not be re-victimized by bringing the target and offender together to resolve the situation.
- School discipline policies, while needed to address student conduct issues and support positive student behaviors, are not sufficient to address bullying behaviors.
- Bullying behavior interventions may include teaching social skills such as friendship, empathy, and anger management in one-on-one, not group settings.
- Discipline should be addressed in private.
- There are common intervention strategies that are not effective for responding to bullying involvement. Most notably, zero-tolerance policies that involve expelling a student upon involvement in bullying are ineffective and often increase other forms of school conflict.
Additional School Districts Resources
Components of Quality Bully Prevention Programs
Below are resources where schools can find evidence-based programs and interventions. These resources also provide further information on bullying and tips on preventing it.
- Bullying Prevention Toolkit – Center for Safe Schools offers a comprehensive Bullying Prevention Toolkit to help educators, parents, and students better understand and prevent bullying behaviors. The toolkit includes valuable resources such as strategies for intervention, training materials, and actionable steps to foster a culture of respect and inclusion in schools.
- Blueprints Program: https://www.blueprintsprograms.org/program-search/
- Intervention Central: https://www.interventioncentral.org/
- Kinder and Braver World Project: Bullying Prevention 101 for Schools:
- Dos and Don’ts: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2197951
- StopBullying.Gov: https://www.stopbullying.gov/research-resources/index.html#researchsummary
References
- https://www.pbis.org/topics/bullying-prevention
- NASP, linked above
School Districts Trainings
The following are free or low-cost bullying-specific resources and training for schools. Schools may designate a person or team to receive training to lead efforts against bullying behavior in schools.
WITS is a program developed in Canada that teaches conflict resolution strategies. Training is free and includes manuals and lesson plans.
- WITS Program Foundation: https://witsprogram.ca/
CBITS is a free training program that explains how to implement a school-wide intervention in schools to help students who have experienced trauma. The online training is free and is divided into two training sessions. After registration, participants can access videotaped training and advice from intervention developers and experienced CBITS providers. Downloadable materials and resources are available free of charge. Participants have access to an online community where they can participate in peer-to-peer discussion boards, document sharing, and ask an expert.
- Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS)
National PTA of School Excellence: https://www.pta.org/home/programs. Provides free resources to help schools increase their school climate. Programs include School of Excellence, Reflection Art Program, STEM Families, Family Reading Experience, PTA Connected, and Healthy Lifestyles.