Bullying

Research shows that bullying can negatively impact a child’s access to education. It can lead to school avoidance and higher rates of absenteeism, lower grades; difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in school, and increased drop out rates.

Since 2009, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has received more than 2,000 complaints stemming from issues at public schools across the country. School districts have a legal responsibility to ensure that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) is made available to eligible students with disabilities. Courts have found that bullying and harassment may result in a denial of FAPE. The IEP can be a helpful tool in a bullying prevention plan.

If a student with a disability is being bullied, federal law requires schools to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate the issue and take necessary steps to stop the bullying and prevent it from recurring.