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

Bullying may involve physical actions, words, gestures, and social isolation. Although bullying may involve direct, relatively open attacks against a victim, bullying is frequently indirect, or subtle in nature (spreading rumors, enlisting a friend to assault a child). The classic definition of bullying in Utah Schools was expanded by the Utah Legislature. Changes are reflected in Administrative Rule R277-613: Local Education Agency (LEA) Policies and Training Regarding Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Hazing, Retaliation, and Abusive Conduct.

The overall goal of bullying prevention and intervention is to provide every student with a safe and supportive school and social environment.

LEA Bullying Policy Checklist

In order to comply with Administrative Rule R277-613: LEA Policies and Training Regarding Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Hazing, Retaliation, and Abusive Conduct. The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has developed a LEA Bullying Policy Checklist that LEAs may use to inform their bullying policy and address incidents. 

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.

Contact Us

Becca Rae
Prevention Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7667 | E-mail

Millie Mortensen
Office Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7631 | E-mail

Best Practices

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Violence Prevention (DVP), and their study on the links among multiple forms of violence, bullying is associated with additional violent risk factors, such as witnessing violence or substance use. By engaging in work that increases a student's protective factors, students who are at risk of bullying or being bullied decreases.

Violence Prevention
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Violence Prevention (DVP)

Reports and Statistics

Fast Facts: Bullying
National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)

SHARP Survey
Department of Health and Human Services

School Climate Survey
Utah State Board of Education SafeUT Annual Report School Disciplinary and Law Enforcement Action Report

School Disciplinary and Law Enforcement Action Report
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices

Laws and Policies

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has one Administrative Rule that oversees Attendance and Truancy; R277-613: Local Education Agency (LEA) Policies and Training Regarding Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Hazing, Retaliation, and Abusive Conduct.

This rule is governed by three primary Utah Code Sections:

Internal Audit

Utah State Legislature Utah Code Section Title 63I-5-201(4): Internal Auditing Programs, State Agencies directs the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to establish an internal audit program. If you would like to report a concern (e.g., misuse of assets, funds, or resources; non-compliance with regulations, policies or rules; fraud, waste, abuse or unethical behavior), please complete the USBE Internal Audit Report a Concern Form.

Model Forms

Bullying Toolkit Record of Parent Notification of Bullying Incident Model Form
Bullying Toolkit Investigation Model Form
Bullying Toolkit Incident Report Model Form
Bullying Toolkit Action Plan Model Form
Utah State Board of Education

Model Policies

Local Education Agency Bullying Model Policy
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices

Resources

General

Bullying
Utah Parent Center (UPC)

Stop Bullying on the Spot
Stop Bullying

President Obama and the First Lady at the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention
The White House Blog

Local Education Agencies (LEAs)

PBIS Bullying Prevention

U.S. DOJ Bullying Initiative
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention



CDC Bullying Compendium of Assessments
Crime Solutions
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

Stand4Kind

School Bus Bullying - National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)

SafeUT Logo

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.

Parents

What is Bullying?

Utah Code (53G-9-601(3)) defines specific legal parameters for student and staff bullying, it centers on three core components: PRI

  • Power Imbalance: An advantage in physical strength, social status, or age.
  • Repetition: Occurs repeatedly over time (Note: A single severe or "egregious" event can also legally qualify as bullying).
  • Intent: Performed deliberately to cause harm, humiliation, or distress.

Bullying vs. Conflict: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the difference determines the right response:

Feature

Power

Intent

Empathy

Conflict

Equal power between peers.

Disagreement; no goal to hurt.

Children show remorse and modify behavior when harm is realized.

Bullying

Imbalance of power/control.

Explicit goal to harm or humiliate.

Behavior continues even when the target is visibly hurt.

Warning Signs

  • Unexplained physical injuries or frequent headaches/stomachaches.
  • Sudden avoidance of school or social situations.
  • Changes in sleep, eating habits, or sudden screen-hiding behaviors.
  • Lost or damaged clothing, electronics, or personal items.
  • Expressing feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, or mentioning self-harm.

Common Risk Factors:

  • Targeted youth: Perceived as "different," anxious, depressed, or unable to defend themselves easily.
  • Youth who bully: May have low parental involvement, friends who bully, or express positive views toward violence.

The Link Between Bullying and Suicide:

While media reports often link bullying directly to suicide, suicide is rarely caused by a single factor, and most youth who experience bullying do not engage in suicidal behavior.

  • Complex Ecosystem: Bullying functions within a larger web of personal, social, and environmental factors. Youth involved in suicide attempts are typically facing multiple stressors, limited social supports, and underlying mental health vulnerabilities (such as depression or hopelessness).
  • Shared Risk Factors: Bullying contributes to the risk factors as it can exacerbate feelings of isolation, rejection, and despair, which can trigger suicidal ideation in already vulnerable youth.
  • Additional information on supporting suicide prevention, please visit USBE’s Suicide Prevention Program.

How Youth Can Protect Themselves

Direct Strategies:

  • Stay Calm & Assertive: Tell the bully to stop in a calm, firm voice, or use humor to defuse the tension.
  • Seek Help: Seek assistance from an adult, friend, or classmate when a potentially threatening situation occurs.
  • Travel in Groups: Walk with friends in hallways or unstructured areas (where bullying happens most).
  • Do Not Retaliate: Avoid fighting back or escalating emotionally, as this often emboldens the person bullying.

Digital Safety Guidelines:

  • The "Mom" & "Forever" Rules: Don't post anything you wouldn't want a parent to see, and assume everything online is permanent and public.
  • Don't Engage: Block accounts, change compromised passwords, and never reply to cyberbullying messages.

Action Steps for Parents If Your Child is Being Bullied:

  1. Reassure Them: Emphasize that it is not their fault and that you are there to help.
  2. Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of dates, times, descriptions, and online screenshots.
  3. Contact the School: Follow your district's grievance steps. This can be found on your LEAs website or the USBE Parent Portal
  4. Seek Professional Support: Consider consulting a licensed mental health counselor or contacting law enforcement if physical assault occurred.

If Your Child is Bullying Others:

  1. Address It Directly: Offer a calm explanation of the report and listen to their response.
  2. Enforce Consequences: Hold them accountable with clear, consistent boundaries.
  3. Increase Supervision: Monitor their activities, friendships, and digital screen use.
  4. Partner with the School: Ensure joint accountability and track ongoing behavioral changes.

Additional Resources:

Student Resources:

Professional Learning

Student Services Training Request Portal (TRP)

Training Portal Logo with link

Current Trainings

Parent Seminar Materials
Coming Soon

Student Training Materials
Coming Soon

Bullying Prevention for Utah School Employees
This course covers Utah-specific bullying definitions, policies, and procedures. Learn to differentiate bullying from conflict, understand its impact, and apply prevention and intervention strategies. Includes reporting, investigation, and action plan guidelines for administrators.

Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG)
CSTAG training is the foundation to assist Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with the creation and implementation of threat assessment and a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team.