Safe School Climate Act

Safe School Climate Act

(passed June 12, 2006)

According to the Act, school districts must implement the following ten components for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade.
1. A statement prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying 2. Meaningful definitions of the above behaviors 3. Descriptions of appropriate student behavior 4. Consequences and remedial actions for persons committing acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying and for persons engaging in reprisal or retaliation

Safe School Climate Act

(components)

5. Procedures for reporting these acts

must identify the appropriate school personnel responsible for taking the report and investigating the complaint

6. Procedures for prompt investigation of these acts 7. Statements that prohibit retaliation against individuals who report harassment, intimidation or bullying 8. Consequences and remedial action for those found to have falsely accused another

Safe School Climate Act

(components) 9. A process for discussing the districts harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy with students 10. A statement of how the policy is to be publicized, including notice that the policy applies to participation in school-sponsored functions

How are districts implementing the required components of the Safe School Climate Act?
South Carolina State Board of Education Model Policy for Act 353
The local school board should ensure that the school districts policy is included in the school districts publication of the comprehensive rules, procedures, and standards of conduct for schools and in the students handbook. The school district shall involve parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community representatives in the process of creating the policy.

Bullying: Safe School Climate Act Definition

a) a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act(s) will have the effect of harming a student, physically or emotionally, or damaging the students property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his person or damage to his property; or b) has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.
Model Policy for Act 353

Safe Schools Climate Act: Consequences

Consequences shall be varied and graded according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student and the students history of problem behaviors and performance, and must be consistent with the district board of trustees approved code of student conduct. Remedial measures shall be designed to correct the problem behavior; prevent another occurrence of the problem; and protect the victim of the act.
Model Policy for Act 353