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DATING VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL

FILE CODE: 5131.8 Reg
Monitored
Mandated
Other Reasons

Definitions:

“At school” means in a classroom, or anywhere on school property, school bus or school-related vehicle, at an official bus stop, or at any school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is on school grounds.

“Dating partner” means any person involved in an intimate association with another individual that is primarily characterized by the expectation of affectionate involvement, whether casual, serious, or long-term.

“Dating violence” means a pattern of behavior where one person threatens to use, or actually uses physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to control a dating partner.

Procedures for Reporting Acts or Incidents of Dating Violence

  1. School staff members shall take all reasonable measures to prevent acts or incidents of teen dating violence and are required to report all acts or incidents of dating violence at school;
  2. All acts or incidents of dating violence at school shall be reported to the Principal or designee verbally as soon as possible, but not later than the end of the pupil’s school day; and
  3. These acts or incidents may include, but are not limited to: witnessed accounts, reported accounts, digital or electronic accounts or patterns of behavior which are threatening or controlling.

Guidelines for Responding to At-School Acts or Incidents of Dating Violence 

Any staff member who witnesses or learns of an act or incident of dating violence at school shall take the following steps:

  1. Separate the victim from the aggressor;
  2. Verbally report the act or incident to the Principal or designee no later than the end of the pupil’s school day; and
  3. Monitor the interactions of the victim and the aggressor with pupil safety being the priority.

The Principal or designee upon receiving a report of a dating violence act or incident at school shall take the following steps:

  1. Separate the victim from the aggressor (if applicable);
  2. Meet separately with the victim and alleged aggressor;
  3. Take statements from the victim and alleged aggressor;
  4. Further investigate the act or incident by speaking with witnesses and by-standers;
  5. The Principal or designee may make a determination to involve law enforcement, if appropriate;
  6. Appropriate referrals should be made if after an assessment by a school social worker, counselor or school psychologist determines the victim’s or alleged aggressor’s mental health has been placed at risk; and
  7. The Principal or designee will contact the parents/legal guardians of both the victim and alleged aggressor to set a meeting to discuss the act or incident.

 The Principal or designee shall implement the following procedures for dealing with victims of a confirmed act or incident of dating violence:

  1. Interaction between the victim and aggressor should be avoided.  The pupil’s safety should be the first priority;
  2. A conference should be held with the parent if one has not already been held;
  3. Make the pupil and parent/legal guardian aware of any community-based resources that may be appropriate;
  4. If applicable, make the pupil and parent/legal guardian aware that they have the right to file charges; and
  5. Encourage the victim to report any further acts or incidents of dating violence or retaliation from the aggressor or any other person.

The Principal or designee shall implement the following procedures for dealing with the aggressor of a confirmed act or incident of dating violence.

  1. A conference should be held with the parent/legal guardian if one has not already been held.
  2. Make the aggressor and parent/legal guardian aware of community-based support and counseling resources that may be available; and
  3. Implement appropriate counseling, intervention and disciplinary methods that are consistent with school policy and the Code of Conduct.

Discipline Procedures Specific to Acts or Incidents of Dating Violence at School

  1. The policies and procedures specific to acts or incidents of dating violence at school should be used to address the act or incident as well as serve as remediation, intervention, education and prevention for all individuals involved;
  2. The responses should be tiered with consideration given to the seriousness and number of previous occurrences of acts or incidents in which both the victim and/or aggressor have been involved;
  3. Consequences may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Temporary removal from the classroom;
    2. In-school suspension;
    3. Out-of-school suspension;
    4. Notification to law enforcement; and
    5. Expulsion

Retaliation toward the victim of any act or incident of dating violence shall be considered when administering consequences to the aggressor based on the severity of the act or incident.

  1. Remedial procedures/interventions may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Parent/legal guardian conferences;
    2. Pupil counseling;
    3. Corrective instruction or any learning or service experience;
    4. Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS);
    5. Behavior management plans; and
    6. Alternative placement.

Warning Signs of Dating Violence

Recognizing one or more signs of teen dating violence plays an important role in preventing, education, and intervening in acts or incidents of dating violence.  Many warning signs make a connection to one pupil in the relationship asserting control and power over the other.  The warning signs listed below are to educate the school community on the characteristics a pupil in an unhealthy or abusive relationship might exhibit.  Warning signs may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Name-calling and putdowns to belittle or intimidate the other pupil;
  2. Extreme jealousy when the other pupil speaks to peers;
  3. One pupil making excuses for the other pupil’s behavior;
  4. Frequent monitoring to check up on the other pupil and demanding to know his/her whereabouts;
  5. Uncontrolled anger;
  6. One pupil giving up spending time with other peers and family;
  7. Injuries and reports of how he/she received them that sound untrue; and
  8. Quick progression in the seriousness of the relationship.

 

Key Words