Bullying and harassment prevention includes a range of intentionally chosen strategies for increasing respectful and kind behaviors and reducing bullying and harassment behaviors. Prevention has many individual components described here and in linked resources, and effective intervention typically involves multiple components. Many schools attempt to address bullying by teaching students the definition of bullying and setting up systems to report it. Unfortunately, bullying, particularly chronic bullying, is typically too complex for this approach alone to be effective. Schools can more effectively reduce incidents of bullying and harassment by:
Bullying and harassment are prevalent, with nearly one in five students reporting being bullied2, and 27% of students reporting experiencing cyberbullying in the previous 30 days3. Bullying or harassment that occurs online or outside of the school may still impact the school day for students. Bullying and harassment can lead to decreased academic performance4, attendance5, and increased risk for self-harm or suicide6. Therefore, schools must prioritize bullying and harassment prevention in age- and developmentally appropriate approaches across the grade span, and include family and community collaboration and communication.
The integration of bullying and harassment efforts within the PBIS framework can improve both the implementation and effectiveness of individual prevention components.
Teach pro-social schoolwide expectations (e.g. respect, kindness, etc.) and select specific additional bullying and harassment prevention strategies that are (a) aligned to school or district strengths and needs, and (b) organized across a continuum of intensity.
Resource from schoolsafety.gov: Two-page resource that provides information on the impacts of cyberbullying and suggestions for addressing it.
Respond to Bullying
Resource from schoolsafety.gov providing guidance on effective responses to bullying behavior
Support the Children Involved
Resource from schoolsafety.gov providing guidance on supporting all children involved
Facilitating Civil Discussions
Resource from PBIS.org on facilitating effective and civil classroom conversations
Bullying Prevention Manual
Free Elementary curriculum for bullying prevention
Expect Respect
Free Middle and High School curriculum for bullying prevention
What Kids Can Do
Strategies from Stopbullying.gov related to actions students can take to stop bullying
Bystander actions
Fact sheet from stopbullying.gov on the importance of bystander intervention
Help Children Build Resilience
Resource from Stopbullying.gov on building resilience
How to Prevent Cyberbullying: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Youth
Resource from Stopbullying.gov for families and youth on preventing cyberbullying
Cyberbullying: Tips for Teachers
Resource from Stopbullying.gov on preventing cyberbullying
PACER's Teens Against Bullying
Resource from PACER for middle and high school students on taking action against bullying
Data is used to select practices and to inform decision-making about implementation. Collecting and analyzing data to track progress and identify areas of improvement will strengthen bullying and harassment practices.
Assess Bullying
Guidance from stopbullying.gov on assessing bullying behaviors
School Climate Survey Suite
Freely available school climate surveys on PBISapps.org
Data-Based Decision Making
PBIS.org topic page on using data for decision making
Bullying Prevention Self-Assessment
Self-assessment from PBIS.org
Systems include teaming, training, and the resources needed for adults to implement the selected practices effectively.
Staff Training on Bullying Prevention
Information from Stopbullying.gov that provides a brief description of what staff training should include
Policies, Rules, and Reporting Systems
Information from Stopbullying.gov that provides guidance around policy and reporting system development
Setting Conditions for Success: Creating Effective Responsible Use Policies for SchoolsGuidance on creating effective responsible use policies for technology
A Toolkit for Strengthening K-12 Reporting ProgramsResource from National Threat Assessment Center on setting up effective centralized reporting systems
Reducing the effectiveness of Bullying Behavior in Schools
Resource from PBIS.org that provides an overview of bullying prevention within a PBIS framework. Includes a checklist of key features of the process
In addition to emphasizing the importance of safe, harassment and bullying free school environments to students, schools should work with families to help the adults to understand what bullying and harassment are, the negative impacts of bullying and harassment,, and how to support students at home in avoiding bullying and harassing behaviors, intervening or disrupting behaviors they may see, and responding to incidents where their child was bullied or harassed. Families should be taught response procedures such as how to report concerns for their child or others and how to access support for their child if needed.
While media or community exposure to hate speech is not the same as bullying or harassment targeted at an individual. It is important to recognize that locally and nationally, students are exposed to varying forms and levels of news and events. Students can be inadvertently exposed to hate speech, witness bullying or harassment in person, or even be exposed to harmful language about protected groups through media. While some of these experiences are unavoidable, it may be important for school teams to have a plan to help support students when they are exposed to hate speech and harmful language.
Resources in this section include assessments, examples, and materials to aid in implementing PBIS.
Publications listed below include every eBook, monograph, brief, and guide written by the Center on PBIS.
Presentations about their experiences, published research, and best practices from recent sessions, webinars, and trainings
Recordings here include keynotes and presentations about PBIS concepts as well tips for implementation.
