HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION (BULLYING) REPORTING

The Safe Schools Reporting Act of 2005 mandates the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to require county boards of education to report incidents of harassment or intimidation (bullying) against students attending a public school. The law further specifies procedures for reporting these acts, including specific guidelines for a Harassment and Intimidation (Bullying) Reporting Form.  The law requires that the following be reported:

• A description of the act constituting the harassment or intimidation (bullying);

• The age of the victim and alleged perpetrator;

• The allegation of the alleged perpetrator’s motive;

• A description of the investigation of the complaint and any corrective action taken by the appropriate school authorities;

• The number of days a student is absent from school, if any, as a result of the incident; and

• The number of false allegations reported.

MSDE requires us to use their Harassment and Intimidation (Bullying) Reporting Form ---download here --- to collect the required information.  Students, parents/guardians of students, or close relatives of students may use the MSDE form to report incidents of harassment or intimidation (bullying) to schools, outside of the discipline process.  When completed, the form is returned to the administrator of the student’s school, who will conduct an investigation.