Department of Education
Dr. Tim Webb, Commissioner

What Parents Can Do

What to do, how to respond to bullying situations

When your child is the victim...

• encourage your child to report any problems
• keep documentation of instances -- this will help you communicate the extent of the problem to school officials, etc.
• talk with the teacher, counselor, or principal about the problem
• do not try to fix the problem by confronting the bully or the bully’s parents
• guide your child through the process of addressing the problem, alongside them, empowering them to take appropriate steps to address the issue
• notify the school administration immediately if your child is physically threatened

When your child is the bully...

• be a positive role model
• reinforce positive and kind behavior
• teach your child how to be respectful and show anger appropriately
• seek professional assistance, if necessary

When your child is a bystander...

• encourage your child to report the incident immediately to school officials
• have your child support the victim by including him or her in social activities

When cyberbullying is the problem...

• document messages or posts
• avoid interaction online – block future messages or emails, avoid any problem websites
• discuss the situation with your child’s school. Problems may extend from school to home, or home to school.

When bullying doesn’t stop

When you are not satisfied with the response from the school…

• contact the school district office and take the appropriate steps to file a grievance

When the issue goes beyond bullying and appears to be harassment...

• contact the Office of Civil Rights for more information and to file a compliant.