Bullying Prevention: Parent Information

Reporting Procedures

Refer to the school district’s anti-bullying policy and reporting procedures for guidance on the local process to make a report.   If that is not available, typically the following procedure is appropriate.  Generally, reporting bullying behaviors to the school begins with the classroom teacher or building administrator and proceeds to the next contacts only if the issue is not resolved.

1. Report to the classroom teacher, school counselor and/or the building administrator (principal)

2. Report to the district superintendent

3. Report to the district school board

4. Report to the Nebraska Department of Education School Safety Program Specialist (402-471-1925)

5. Contact the Nebraska Department of Education Legal Department for professional practice complaints (402-471-0732)

If the bullying behavior involves criminal conduct (theft, assault, battery, etc), use the following reporting procedure in addition to notification to the school.

1. Report to local law enforcement

2. Contact the county attorney

Advice for parents and family members of children who engage in bullying behaviors

• Consider this a serious behavior concern and let your child know in a calm manner that the behavior is not acceptable.  

• Attempt conversation with your child to discuss more acceptable behaviors.  Give your child opportunities to practice the expected behaviors.

• Often children who engage in bullying behaviors do not recognize and respond to the feelings of others appropriately.  Provide opportunities to teach your child skills in empathy – recognizing and responding to another person’s feelings.   Literature and movies offer resources for generating discussions about emotions.

• If the school contacts you regarding the behavior of your child, be prepared to work with the school to help change the behaviors of your child.  A collaborative plan that is implemented at both home and school will have greater impact on changing behaviors. 

• Encourage and model respectful behaviors for your child.

Advice for parents and family members of a child who has been bullied or witnessed bullying

• Keep communication lines open so there is a comfort level in reporting an incident.  Encourage your child, whether a target or a bystander, to report any bullying behavior to you.  Acknowledge the child’s feelings and let the child know that reporting was the right thing to do.  

•  Do not dismiss the situation by asking the child to ignore the bullying or take care of it on their own.  Adult support is a key component to changing bullying situations and keeping children safe.

• Explore ideas and alternatives to address the situation.  Ask what the child has done to try to stop the bullying.   Generate a list of additional ideas for stopping the behavior; i.e., stay in safe or supervised areas, develop and practice assertive statements, know how to make a report, identify other children or teachers who can offer support or help, etc.   Fighting back and ignoring the situation are not helpful and should not be on the list of ideas for stopping bullying. 

• Decide if the problem should be solved in collaboration with the school.  Discuss with your child how the incident could be reported to school personnel if the behavior occurs at school or impacts the learning environment.   Decide who should know – consider the protocol in your local school policy and any staff members who your child can trust.   Be accurate in reporting the details of the incident.

• Do not confront the child or parents of the child who bullies. 

• Involve your child in social activities that provide opportunities to build relationships and develop pro-social skills.