Right to Be Free from Bullying, Discrimination, and Harassment

Bullying

PWCS is committed to creating an environment in which students are free from bullying. Bullying is composed of the following three components:

• Any aggressive and unwanted behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; and
• Involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and the victim; and
• Is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.

Bullying includes cyberbullying, which is the willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. Bullying does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict. Students who believe they have been bullied are strongly encouraged to report such conduct to the school administration or through the options found in the Reporting Student Concerns section. The school administrator will take appropriate steps to respond quickly and decisively to student reports of bullying.

Cyberbullying and any mistreatment or bullying behavior that occurs on school property or at a school-sponsored activity, prevents a student from going to or from school safely, or impacts a student’s ability to access education violates the COB and will be investigated and responded to by school officials. Bullying that is directed at a student because of the student’s race, color, religion, national origin (including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other basis included in the PWCS Nondiscrimination Statement (also known as a protected class) is investigated and acted upon under the PWCS procedures pertaining to harassment or sex-based misconduct.

All complaints will be followed by an investigation. Those accused and the parent(s) of the students involved will be informed of complaints, witnesses will be interviewed, and all information will remain confidential except for that which must be shared as part of the investigation or must be disclosed to ensure the safety and security of students or others. Although discipline assigned to a student in response to a bullying complaint is confidential, certain aspects of the discipline assigned may be shared with the student who was bullied if it directly affects the student. For example, the student who was bullied may be told that the other student has been directed to have no contact with them or that the other student will no longer be attending the same classes or school.

School administrators must notify parents of any student involved in an incident of alleged bullying as soon as practically possible, but no later than 24 hours after learning of the allegation of bullying.

PWCS Nondiscrimination Statement

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) does not discriminate in the provision of educational programs, services, and activities, nor tolerate bullying or harassment, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin (including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, marital or parental status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.

PWCS is committed to promptly and effectively addressing harassment.

Discrimination

Discrimination occurs when one or more individuals are treated differently or not given fair consideration or the same opportunity as others because of their race, color, religion, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including lactation, age, marital status or parental status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. Discrimination against students or staff is strictly prohibited. Students who believe they have been discriminated against are encouraged to report the matter to the school principal, to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance Department at DEIC@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839, or through options found in the Reporting Student Concerns section.

Complaints of discrimination or harassment involving students shall be resolved as provided in PWCS policy and regulation.

Harassment

Harassment is a persistent pattern of unwelcome conduct based on protected class (race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic characteristics, shared ancestry, age, sex, disability), or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Harassment includes:

• Demeaning and Intimidating Behavior: Discriminatory harassment involves actions that demean, intimidate, or harm an individual or group. These behaviors could result in an intimidating, hostile, and/or offensive environment. Such conduct can interfere with a student’s education.
• Various Expressions: Discriminatory harassment can manifest in different ways, including physical actions, verbal communication, nonverbal cues, electronic messages, or written content.
• Targeting Based on Belief: Importantly, discriminatory harassment may target an individual even if they do not actually possess any characteristic that serves as the basis for the harassment. The key factor is that the harassment is based on the belief that the individual possesses such characteristics.

Please note that the use of derogatory slurs or symbols that demean or intimidate an individual or group will be investigated as harassment.

Students who believe that they have been subject to discrimination or harassment are encouraged to report the matter to the school principal, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance Department at DEIC@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839, or through options found in the Reporting Student Concerns section.

Sex-Based Harassment and Sex-Based Misconduct

Discrimination under Title IX prohibits harassment of students based on sex. Essentially, Title IX ensures that no person in the United States can be excluded from participation, denied benefits, or subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex under any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. It plays a crucial role in promoting equal opportunities and fairness across educational institutions. Title IX is conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

• A PWCS employee conditioning the provision of a PWCS aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in sexual conduct.
• Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a student equal access to a PWCS educational program or activity.
• Dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Not all allegations of sex-based misconduct are considered discrimination or sexual harassment under Title IX. Allegations of sex-based misconduct that are not within the scope of Title IX will be investigated and addressed, and discipline may be imposed for any conduct determined to be a violation of the PWCS Code of Behavior.

More information on discrimination and harassment of students can be found in the associated PWCS policies and regulations found in the Resources, Policies, and Regulations section. Students who believe that they have been subject to discrimination or harassment are encouraged to report the matter to the school principal, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance Department at DEIC@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839, or through options found in the Reporting Student Concerns section.

Preventing Discrimination and Harassment

School officials will act to stop and prevent discrimination and harassment. Students can help stop and prevent discrimination and harassment by speaking up and:

• Asking for help from a parent, teacher, counselor, school administrator, or other trusted adult.
• Reporting the misconduct to a school administrator, a trusted adult at school, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance Department, or through options found in the Reporting Student Concerns section.

Educator Cultural Competency

According to Code of Virginia § 22.1-298.7, “Each school board shall adopt and implement policies that require each teacher and any other school board employee holding a license issued by the Board to complete cultural competency training, in accordance with guidance issued by the Board, at least every two years.” The Virginia Framework for Cultural Competency is comprised of four domains, which are Culturally Competent Self-Reflection, Culturally Competent Pedagogy and Practice, Culturally Competent Learning Environments, and Culturally Competent Community Engagement.

As the 10th most diverse school division in the nation, PWCS understands the responsibility of supporting a positive climate and culture. Individuals who attend our schools are all members of our community regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, ability, national origin, political ideology, area of residency (including rural locations), or gender. This means we value and respect differences within our student populations and support our staff with their commitment to the advancement of cultural competency within our schools and classrooms, with an emphasis on the following areas as they relate to pre-K-12 student behavioral expectations:

• Access and opportunity.
• Resource equity.
• Family communication and engagement.
• Intercultural competency and inclusion.

Our commitment to a universally positive climate and culture ensures that, when discipline is necessary, students and families are well-informed about the disciplinary process, school communities are restored, and students are provided with access to a supportive system that is in line with PWCS behavioral standards.

Please refer to relevant PWCS Policies and Regulations under the Resources, Policies, and Regulations section.

Right to Freedom of Speech

Students who intend to organize a protest or demonstration at school or during the school day should work with their school principal to ensure that their activism does not disrupt instruction or school operations and is conducted in a safe and responsible manner. Any such protests or demonstrations represent the speech of the students organizing and participating in the protest or demonstration, not the School Board, the Superintendent, the school division, or the student’s school. The school principal’s role is limited to setting time, manner, and place and other guidelines to ensure student safety and prevent disruption. School administration and employees do not participate in the student event but may be assigned to perform duties needed to maintain order and safety at the event. Students who choose to engage in peaceful activism at school must follow all time, manner, place, and safety guidelines set by school administration. Students who are absent from class or who leave school grounds as part of a protest or demonstration may receive disciplinary consequences for violations of attendance rules. Students who fail to follow the instructions of staff members, cause a disruption to instruction or school operations, who promote violence or who engage in speech that is not protected by the First Amendment, such as speech that calls for violence or illegal activity, that is obscene, profane, or constitutes hate speech may receive disciplinary consequences as appropriate.