Bullying Prevention

Overview

Bullying is commonly understood as aggressive behavior that:

P – Exists in a relationship in which there is an imbalance of Power and Strength

R – Repeated over time

I – Intended to cause distress or harm

Utah’s legislature also recognizes that a single egregious act may constitute bullying.

Bullying Complaints

At the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive educational environment for all students. We understand the importance of addressing concerns related to bullying incidents promptly and appropriately.

If you have a complaint regarding bullying that has occurred at your school, please be aware that USBE supports Local Education Agencies (LEAs aka charters and districts) in ensuring compliance with statutes and rules concerning their policies. We offer technical assistance as necessary to assist LEAs in maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.

However, USBE does not possess the authority to conduct investigations to determine whether a specific incident constitutes bullying, nor can we make determinations regarding disciplinary actions. Our primary focus lies in assessing compliance and, when applicable, providing recommendations for improvements to ensure compliance with statute and rule.

The state of Utah grants LEAs local control over their policies and processes. For concerns outside the scope of USBE, we encourage you to follow your LEA's grievance process or contact your local school board.

If your concern specifically involves compliance with statute and rule, please feel free to reach out to our audit department hotline at (801) 538-7813 or audit@schools.utah.gov

We appreciate your commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful educational environment, and we encourage open communication between schools, parents, and communities to address concerns effectively.

Resources

Utah Bullying Toolkit- Coming Soon!

Students

Parents/Guardians

Pacer Center Action Information Sheet - Help Your Child Recognize the Signs of Bullying

Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center

What Parents Should Know About Bullying: Definition, Impact and Roles

Digital Citizenship, Safety, and Wellness
Utah Education Network

Teaching Digital Citizenship

Students

How Youth Can Protect Themselves from Bullying

Kids Against Bullying

Teens Against Bullying

Become an Upstander YouTube

Bystander Facts

The SafeUT application provides a way to connect to licensed counselors that are ready to listen to any sized crisis or concern. Support is immediate and confidential, and as easy as reaching for your phone and sending that first message.