Royal ISD is committed to providing a safe, supportive learning environment for every student. Bullying, including cyberbullying, and retaliation against anyone who reports bullying or participates in an investigation are prohibited.

Under Texas law, bullying means a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct.

The conduct must meet applicable legal requirements and:

1. Have the effect or potential effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student or damage to the student’s property;

2. Be sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;

3. Materially and substantially disrupt the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or

4. Infringe on the rights of the victim at school.

Bullying may include behaviors such as threats, taunting, harassment, physical aggression, demands for money or property, destruction or theft of property, name-calling, rumor-spreading, social exclusion, or other conduct that meets the legal definition of bullying.

Bullying may also occur through electronic communication, commonly referred to as cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs through the use of electronic communication devices, including cell phones, computers, cameras, email, text messages, social media, websites, applications, or other internet-based communication tools.

Under Texas law, certain cyberbullying that occurs away from school or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity may still fall within the district’s authority when the legal requirements are met.

Students, parents, staff members, and others are encouraged to report suspected bullying as soon as possible.

Concerns may be reported to a teacher, school counselor, principal, assistant principal, or other appropriate district employee.

Students should never be afraid to report bullying. Retaliation against any person, including a student, victim, witness, or other individual who in good faith reports bullying or provides information during an investigation is prohibited.

Royal ISD will investigate reports of bullying and related misconduct in accordance with district policy and applicable law.

If an investigation determines that bullying occurred, the district will take appropriate action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and district policy. The district may also take appropriate disciplinary or corrective action when misconduct violates district rules even if the conduct does not meet the legal definition of bullying.

The district will provide required notification to the parent or guardian of the alleged victim and the parent or guardian of the student alleged to have engaged in bullying in accordance with Texas law and district policy.

Appropriate counseling and support options may be made available to students who experience bullying, students who witness bullying, and students who engage in bullying.

Royal ISD prohibits bullying and cyberbullying as provided by law and district policy. The district also prohibits retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports bullying, serves as a witness, or otherwise provides information concerning an alleged incident.

District procedures address:

• Reporting suspected bullying;

• Investigating reports of bullying;

• Providing required parent or guardian notifications;

• Determining whether reported conduct constitutes bullying;

• Providing appropriate interventions, counseling, and support; and

• Taking disciplinary or other corrective action when appropriate.

Students and parents are encouraged to review the Royal ISD Student Code of Conduct and applicable district policies for additional information regarding bullying, reporting procedures, investigations, disciplinary consequences, and available supports.

A student or parent who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a bullying investigation may use the district’s applicable complaint process, including FNG(LOCAL).

If you see or experience bullying, report it. Royal ISD takes concerns regarding student safety seriously and encourages students and families to seek assistance as soon as possible.