Responsibilities of School Personnel and Students in Relation to Witnessed or Reported Bias Incidents

All Personnel and Students
i. Report bias incidents and civil rights violations to school civil rights administrators.
ii. Be familiar with basic facts about hate and hate crimes, so as to be able to identify bias incidents and have an understanding of the dynamics.
iii. Challenge biased attitudes and behavior whenever encountered in school and outside.
iv. Report hate crimes to police, and summon help in an emergency.
v. Uphold school civil rights and safety policies and remain vigilant and alert for violations.
vi. Take responsibility so as to make a difference in stopping hate, finding and creating
individual and group opportunities for action and involvement.

Teachers Only
i. Set guidelines for classroom behavior to avoid hurt feelings and promote respect.
ii. Respond to and challenge insensitive behaviors like name calling and exclusion of children who are different.
iii. Instruct against hate and prejudice, where this message is apropos to classroom subjects and lessons.
iv. Look for and help implement proactive programs and strategies to promote tolerance and stop hate conduct.

School Staff Specifically
i. Challenge and try to stop bias incidents when witnessed or encountered in progress, if a safe opportunity is presented.

Civil Rights Designees Specifically
i. Be available to receive reports of civil rights violations from students, faculty, and other administrators.
ii. Respond promptly to a report of a civil rights violation by intervening if possible, ensuring that students are safe and free from harassment, and by starting an investigation and quickly ascertaining the facts.
iii. Put a stop to ongoing harassment immediately and effectively, and refer victims to support services and resources available in the area.
iv. Take remedial, corrective, and disciplinary action as the circumstances established by the investigation, school policies, and the Code of Conduct, warrant.
v. Take steps to avert retaliation against students who report civil rights violations, and act immediately to ensure student safety and freedom from harassment.
vi. Communicate and coordinate efforts with police on a regular, ongoing basis, and develop a working partnership with police officers assigned to schools and civil rights issues.
vii. Undergo specialized training to maintain knowledge of hate crimes and civil rights issues as they affect schools.
viii. Coordinate school prevention programming and activities, drawing on available resources and tools.

Return to the Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Notice Handbook