The model bullying and cyberbullying prevention policy, first adopted in 2013 as a result of An Act to Prohibit Bullying and Cyberbullying in Schools (PL 659), has been revised to include comprehensive, detailed, and user-friendly procedural forms as well as an administrative procedure.
All school administrative units’ school boards are to ensure that their policies and procedures are consistent with the revised model policy and procedures.
In addition, each SAU must file its policies to address bullying and cyberbullying to the Department (20-A MRSA §6554, sub-§8). Districts are further notified that beginning in the 2016-17 school year, substantiated incidents of bullying are no longer reported in Infinite Campus State Edition. Instead, these incidents are to be reported in NEO’s Bullying Reporting System on a quarterly basis. Superintendents will need to request staff access to this form by using the NEO access request form. Additional resources for monitoring and compliance with the law will become available this fall.
More information regarding bullying prevention can be found at www.maine.gov/doe/bullying or contact the Department’s Student Assistance Coordinator, Sarah H. Ricker at 624-6685 or sarah.ricker@maine.gov with any questions.