Anti-Bullying Initiative

 
Coordinator Candace Coccaro
346 Claremont Avenue - Rm. 615
Jersey City, NJ 07305
201-915-6227
 

Guidance for Parents on the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (P.L.2010,c.122) 

Anti-Bullying Initiative Reports

All Anti-Bullying Initiative Reports can be located under Public Board Docs and using the following steps:
 
  • Click on meetings
  • Choose the monthly agenda you're looking for
  • Scroll down to Other monthly reports at the bottom of the list and locate  Acknowledgment of Receipt of HIB Monthly Report
A comprehensive list of various community agencies throughout JC and Hudson County.
 
 
As per the Anti-Bullying Rights Act (ABR) (P.L.2010,c.122), the Jersey City Public Schools has posted its Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act grades to the school district’s HIB webpage, and to each individual school’s webpage. Please feel free to contact Ms. Paula Christen, Anti-Bullying Coordinator if you have any questions.
 
New Jersey Department of Education - School Self-Assessment for Determining Grades under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights - District and School Grade Report
Since the implementation of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, our schools and District have made progress in addressing harassment, intimidation and bullying incidents and improving the school climate and culture by using the training and the law to help protect innocent children, as the rules and law help explain the wrongful behavior of the aggressor and communicate it more effectively to all the parents involved.
 
Interpreting Review of the Grades
 
Under the Commissioner's Program, the school grade is a raw score of data and the sum of the ratings for all indicators within each core element on the School Self-Assessment. The maximum total score for a school is 75 points. The school district's grade is an average of the total scores of all schools in the school district.
 

District Philosophy

The Jersey City Public School District is committed to prohibiting all acts of harassment, intimidation and bullying. All students are expected to treat each other with civility and respect and not engage in disruptive or violent behavior. Students who are intimidated and fearful cannot utilize the educational opportunities required for success.
 
Bullying Can Be:
Verbal - e.g., name-calling
Written – e.g., name-calling, threatening letters
Physical – e.g., punching or pushing
Social – e.g., isolating or intentionally excluding someone
Cyber – e.g. using electronic means to bully others
 
Bullying is Not:
Normal childhood behavior
A rite of passage for children
The victim’s fault
Normal conflict
 
 
Bullying is Different from Normal Student Conflict because:
 
It is intentional
It causes physical or emotional harm
The bully shows no remorse/regret
The bully shows no effort to solve the problem
Bullying is an imbalance of power, the bully is trying to seek power or control over a person or belongings
 
 
Some Warning Signs Your Child May be Being Bullied:
 
Because most school children don’t talk about being bullied, it is important that you recognize the following symptoms:
 
Unexplained resistance to going to school
Unexplained cuts, bruises, or injuries
Fearfulness or unusual anxiety
Sleep disturbances and nightmares
Physical complaints which may include headaches, stomach aches on school days
Personal belongings are missing or come home damaged
 
KidsHealth
 
Listen to your child. Be a good listener, so that you can voice your child’s concerns
Contact the school immediately. Schedule an appointment to meet with your child’s Anti-Bullying Specialist, teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator to make them aware of the problem, and/or fill out an Incident Report
Contact the police if you feel the actions against your child are criminal
 
 
 
What NOT to Do:
 
Don’t dismiss your child’s concerns
Don’t tell your child to fight back
Don’t say to your child “just ignore it”
Don’t confront the other child or his/her parent directly
 
 
Some Warning Signs Your Child May be Bullying Others:
 
Always bragging
Always a need to get his/her way
Defiant, including with you
Lacks empathy toward others
Spending time with less “powerful” children
Frequently misbehaves at school
 
 
 
 
What to Do?
 
Talk to your child. Never condone or accept bullying behavior
Encourage sympathy toward others
Help your child deal with his/her feelings in a positive way
Address the consequences of bullying with your child
Contact the school for help. Set up a meeting with the school’s guidance counselor to assist you.
 
Pacer Center
 
 
Consequences for bullying may include the following:
 
Detention
Loss of privileges
Saturday Suspension
In-School suspension
Out of School Suspension
Transfer to another school
Legal Action
Expulsion
 
 

WARNING

Intentional false reports of bullying will not be tolerated. The Jersey City Public Schools’ complete policy on Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (Policy 5131.2) can be found below.
 
NJDOE Guidance Document

POLICY 5512 - HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING 

 

N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13 through 18A:37-32

N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1 et seq.; 6A:16-7.9 et seq.

Model Policy and Guidance for Prohibiting Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying on School Property, at School-Sponsored Functions and on School Buses – April 2011 – New Jersey Department of Education

Memorandum – New Jersey Commissioner of Education – Guidance for Schools on Implementing the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act – December 16, 2011

Adopted:  24 March 2022