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Freedom from Bullying

What counts as bullying or cyberbullying, and how can a student or family report it?

LTS prohibits bullying as defined below, as well as retaliation against anyone who reports or is involved in an investigation of potential bullying.

Bullying is defined in state law as 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 engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that

  • has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property;
  • is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
  • materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or the school; or
  • infringes on the rights of the victim at school.

Bullying also includes cyberbullying, which is defined by state law as bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an internet website, or any other internet-based communication tool.

LTS will also take steps to prevent and mediate bullying incidents between students that

  • interfere with a student’s educational opportunities; or
  • substantially disrupt the orderly operations of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

The school’s anti-bullying policy applies to

  • bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;
  • bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and
  • cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity if the cyberbullying
  • o interferes with a student’s educational opportunities; or
  • o substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

Reporting Procedures

If a student believes that he or she has experienced bullying or has witnessed bullying of another student, it is important for the student or parent to notify a teacher, a school counselor, the principal, or another school employee as soon as possible to obtain assistance and intervention. The administration will investigate any allegations of bullying or other related misconduct. LTS will also provide notice to the parent of the alleged victim and the parent of the student alleged to have engaged in bullying.

Investigation of Report

The principal or designee shall determine whether the allegations in the report, if proven, would constitute prohibited harassment and, if so, proceed under that policy instead. The principal or designee shall conduct an appropriate investigation based on the allegations in the report and shall take prompt interim action calculated to prevent bullying during the course of an investigation, if appropriate.

If the results of an investigation indicate that bullying occurred, the administration will take appropriate disciplinary action and may notify law enforcement in certain circumstances. Disciplinary or other action may be taken even if the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying. Available counseling options will be provided to these individuals, as well as to any students who have been identified as witnesses to the bullying.

A student who receives special education services will be disciplined for conduct meeting the definition of bullying or cyberbullying within applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). LTS may not impose discipline on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, based on that student’s use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying.

The principal or designee may make a report to local law enforcement authorities if, after an investigation is completed, the principal or designee has reasonable grounds to believe that a student engaged in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 22.01 (Assault) or 42.07(a)(7) (Harassment), Texas Penal Code.

To the greatest extent possible, LTS shall respect the privacy of the complainant and/or grievant, persons against whom a report is filed, and witnesses. Limited disclosures may be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation. If a law enforcement or other regulatory agency notifies LTS that it is investigating the matter and requests that the school delay its investigation, LTS will resume the investigation at the conclusion of the agency’s investigation.

A student or parent who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation may appeal through the LTS student and parent complaint and/or grievance procedure.