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- Bullying
- PWCS Nondiscrimination Statement
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Sex-Based Harassment and Sex-Based Misconduct
Bullying
PWCS is committed to creating an environment in which students are free from bullying. Bullying is any aggressive and unwanted behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; 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. It 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. The school administrator will take appropriate steps to respond quickly and decisively to student reports of bullying. Students or parents can report incidents of bullying online.
Cyberbullying and any mistreatment or bullying behavior that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored activity, or that prevents a student from going to or from school safely violates the COB and will be investigated and responded to by school officials. However, not all mistreatment or bullying behavior constitutes discrimination or discriminatory harassment.
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.
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.
Policy 733, "Bullying and Harassment of Students," and Regulation 733-1, "Bullying of Students."
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 or to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compliance Department at DEIC@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839.
Policy 738, “Nondiscrimination and Harassment of Students.”
Complaints of discrimination or harassment involving students shall be resolved as provided in Regulation 738-3, “Resolution of Allegations Against Students of Discrimination or Harassment.”
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.
Students who believe that they have been subject to discrimination or harassment are encouraged to report the matter to the school principal or to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compliance Department at DEIC@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839.
Policy 738, “Nondiscrimination and Harassment of Students.”
Complaints of discrimination or harassment involving students shall be resolved as provided in Regulation 738-3, “Resolution of Allegations Against Students of Discrimination or Harassment.”
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 but may still constitute a violation of the PWCS Code of Behavior.
Policy 738, “Nondiscrimination and Harassment of Students.”
For more information on nondiscrimination and harassment of students, see PWCS Regulation 738-1, “Resolution of Allegations Against Students of Sexual Misconduct.”