Bullying Response System - Home Page

An Act To Prohibit Bullying and Cyberbullying in Schools requires that all school administrative units (SAUs) report substantiated incidents of bullying and cyberbullying to the Maine Department of Education on at least an annual basis (20-A MRSA §254, sub-§11-A).

Quarterly Reporting

Substantiated incidents of bullying are to be reported and reviewed by:

October 15

January 15

April 15

Substantiated incidents of bullying are to be reported and certified by:

June 30th

The revised model bullying and cyberbullying prevention policy and procedures can be found on the Department’s Bullying Prevention website. From the website, model procedural forms can be downloaded to be used for the Reporting, Responding, and/or Remediation procedures of an investigation of an alleged incident of bullying. If your SAU has adopted policy and procedures that are consistent with the revised model*, then be sure to reference your SAU’s website.

*When revising the policies and procedures it has established to address bullying pursuant to §1001, sub-§15, ¶H, a school board shall ensure that its policies and procedures are consistent with the model policy developed or revised by the commissioner pursuant to §254, sub-§11-A.

Definition of Bullying

"Bullying" includes, but is not limited to, a written, oral or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof directed at a student or students that:

(1) Has, or a reasonable person would expect it to have, the effect of:
(a) Physically harming a student or damaging a student's property; or
(b) Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or damage to the student's property;
(2) Interferes with the rights of a student by:
(a) Creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment for the student; or
(b) Interfering with the student's academic performance or ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by a school; or
(3) Is based on a student's actual or perceived characteristics identified in Title 5, section 4602 or 4684-A, or is based on a student's association with a person with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics or any other distinguishing characteristics and that has the effect described in subparagraph (1) or (2).

"Bullying" includes cyberbullying.

Please complete the Report of Substantiated Incident of Bullying for each substantiated incident of bullying using the information indicated on your SAU’s Remediation procedural form (JICK-E3) .

If one or more of the consequences indicated on this Report are suspension or expulsion, the incident must also be entered into Synergy as Other. DO NOT indicate in Synergy that this was a substantiated incident of bullying.

Questions? Please contact: Bear Shea, Climate Culture Resilience Team Coordinator, William.B.Shea@maine.gov