The National School Safety Center identifies bullying as the “most enduring and under-rated problem in U.S. schools.” Federal statistics on bullying indicate that about 20% of American students experience bullying, with the most common reasons being physical appearance, the presence of a disability, sexual orientation, gender and race/ethnicity. Youth with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at a significantly increased risk. Results from the 2021 Cuyahoga County Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) revealed that 21.5% of LGBTQ students reported having been bullied on school property, as compared to 10.7 of their straight peers. In addition, 23.4% of students who identified as “not sure” of their sexual orientation reported as being bullied in school.
While there are a number of formal definitions for bullying, in order for a behavior to be identified as such, it must involve an imbalance of power and it must happen more than once or have the potential to be repeated. Bullying includes aggressive, repetitive behaviors, and an imbalance of power such as verbal or physical attacks, intentionally excluding someone from a group, spreading rumors or making threats. There are long and short term effects that can occur as a result of being bullied. In the short term, students may experience depression, greater incidence of illness and even suicidal thoughts and feelings. Longer term effects include reduced occupational opportunities, difficulty trusting others and an increased tendency to be a loner.
The Ohio Department of Education provides multiple resources and recommendations to assist districts in addressing bullying. Resources include information on interventions, parent communication and evidence-based practices. A recommended first step for districts is to audit or map current practices and interventions. From there, teams can develop action plans that include supports or services for all involved (i.e. the bully, the target and the bystanders).
The Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework offers a tiered approach to addressing the issue. This includes universal strategies where clear behavioral expectations are taught and reinforced, and selective and intensive strategies for those who have greater needs. It is important to note that this multi-level prevention system is managed by a team that utilizes data to monitor student needs and responses to interventions. The following is an example of what bullying prevention and intervention might look like in each tier:
Tier I (Universal)
- All students and staff are taught a common definition of bullying and strategies for preventing and responding to bullying behavior.
- A tracking and reporting system is used for identifying potential bullying across settings.
- Skill-based instruction is provided for students on bullying prevention, cyberbullying prevention and bystander expectations.
- Family and Community Engagement and awareness of procedures
Tier II (Selective)
- A referral system is developed for identifying students who need more support (e.g. teacher nomination form, school-wide data system, caregiver reports).
- Direct social/emotional learning instruction is provided for students who show early signs of problem behavior. Topics might include self-management skills, empathy building and communication skills.
- Active supervision takes place in locations where bullying is most likely to occur.
Tier III (Intensive)
- Individual meetings with students and caregivers take place.
- Individualized plans for students who bully others are developed. These plans may include regular check-ins, mentoring and skills practice.
- Referrals to behavioral health services take place as needed.
- Supportive planning occurs with individuals who are bullied.Supportive check-ins, plans for safety and meetings with caregivers may be included.
Please check out the Awareness Campaign Section in this newsletter for links to resources. If you have any questions on bullying prevention, or aligning with your Multi-tiered System of Support Framework, please email Kristine Kozlowski at [email protected] and someone will contact you!