The School District of Philadelphia strives to provide a safe and positive educational environment for all school community members, free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form. The District has steps set in place to combat and intentionally support students, families, and staff who may be affected by bullying and harassment.
Bullying is classified as An intentional electronic, written, verbal, nonverbal, psychological or physical act or series of acts directed at another student or students, which occurs in and/or outside a school setting, that is severe, persistent, or pervasive and has the effect of doing any of the following:
- Substantially interfering with a student’s education;
- Creating a threatening school environment; or
- Substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Bullying is characterized by the following three (3) criteria;
- It is aggressive behavior or intentional harm doing
- It is carried out repeatedly over time
- It occurs between people where there is an imbalance of power (e.g. physical strength, mental capacity, popularity, or social skills.)
All complaints of bullying, harassment and discrimination will be investigated and completed by 7 school days. The outcomes will be shared with parents/guardians in writing and schools will work to address the misconduct and safety concerns. All families have the right to appeal the bullying and harassment determinations. If you would like to report bullying, harassment or discrimination:
- Completing the online bullying, harassment,/discrimination reporting form;
- Calling the Bullying/Harassment hotline at 215-400-SAFE;
- Submitting a complaint via Safe2Say
- Emailing the Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator directly at antiharassment@philasd.org or reporting the incident to the building principal or designee, or to any other member of the school staff, including teachers, guidance counselors, bilingual counseling assistants (BCAs), coaches and administrators
A report may be made at any time, including non-business hours.
In conclusion, the School District of Philadelphia prioritizes a safe and positive educational space, free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination. The District has and will remain dedicated to transparency and inclusivity in creating a secure learning environment for all.
