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Taunton Public Schools

Academic excellence for every student, in every classroom, in every school

Section IV: Academic and Non-Academic Activities

Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan

Section IV: Academic and Non-Academic Activities

The Taunton Public Schools will provide age-appropriate instruction on bullying prevention in each grade that is incorporated into the school’s or district’s curricula. The curricula must be evidence-based and instruction will include classroom approaches, whole school initiatives, and focused strategies for bullying prevention and social skills development. The Taunton Public Schools will also use other resources that are currently available on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website, including social and emotional learning guidelines.

  1. Specific bullying prevention approaches. Bullying prevention curricula will be informed by current research, which, among other things, emphasizes the following approaches:
    1. using scripts and role plays to develop skills;
    2. empowering students to take action by knowing what to do when they witness other students or school staff engaged in acts of bullying or retaliation, including seeking adult assistance;
    3. helping students understand the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying, including the underlying power imbalance;
    4. emphasizing cyber safety, including safe and appropriate use of electronic communication technologies;
    5. enhancing students’ skills for engaging in healthy relationships and respectful communications; and
    6. engaging students in a safe, supportive school environment that is respectful of diversity and difference.

The Taunton Public Schools will share the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan with students in the Student Handbook as well as publishing the Plan on the website and will notify students and parents where it can be located 

  1. General teaching approaches that support bullying prevention efforts. The following approaches are integral to establishing a safe and supportive school environment. These underscore the importance of our bullying intervention and prevention initiatives:
    1. setting clear expectations for students and establishing school and classroom routines;
    2. creating safe school and classroom environments for all students, including for students with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender students and homeless students;
    3. using appropriate and positive responses and reinforcement, even when students require discipline;
    4. using positive behavioral supports;
    5. encouraging adults to develop positive relationships with students;
    6. modeing, teaching, and rewarding pro-scoial, healthy, and respectful behaviors;
    7. using positive approaches to behavioral health, including collaborative problem solving, conflict resolution training, teamwork, and positive behavioral supports that aid in social and emotional development;
    8. using Internet safety; and
    9. supporting students’ interest and participation in non-academic and extracurricular activities, particularly in their areas of strength