The Russell Byers Charter School strives to provide a safe and positive educational environment for all school community members. As such, RBCS does not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination of students, in any form.
About Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination
What is bullying?
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
- 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)
What is harassment?
Verbal, nonverbal, written, graphic, virtual, or physical conduct relating to an individual’s known or perceived race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, sex*, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, English language proficiency, veteran status, disability, or other protected classification.
- Such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive; and
- A reasonable person in the complainant’s position would find that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment such that it deprives or adversely interferes with or limits an individual or group of the ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school.
What is discrimination?
To treat individuals differently or to harass or victimize based on one or more known or perceived protected classifications including race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, English language proficiency, veteran status, disability, or other protected classification. A single incident of discrimination may implicate more than one protected class.