Brattleboro. Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity has released “What Should Happen When Your Child Reports School-Based Aggression” in time for the upcoming school year. “What Should Happen is the latest in a series of easy to read brochures for parents, guardians and community members on what they should expect when a child they know reports being a victim of school-based aggression,” according to Curtiss Reed, Jr., Vermont Partnership’s executive director.
Originally released in 2004 after the passage of Act 91 under the title of What Should Happen When Your Child Reports Harassment the brochure has been revised three times after changes promulgated by the state legislature. Act 91 strengthened previous anti-harassment in education statutes with a clear chronology of events and dates school personnel were to complete when harassment was reported. Act 117, also passed in 2004, required schools adopt anti-bullying policies however did not dictate a chronology of events and dates that parents could use to hold school personnel accountable in the same way as Act 91.
In the last legislative session state lawmakers passed legislation that effectively require all forms of social aggression be handled under a common investigative process with the same chronology of events and dates. These changes prompted the name change of the brochure.
Sarah Launderville, Vermont Center for Independent Living executive director, notes, “We appreciate this new resource for parents/guardians. Young people with disabilities are bullied and harassed on a regular basis and often parents are not sure what their next step is. This brochure will help guide and hopefully give parents the confidence they need to step forward legally. Parents who step forward are doing it not only for their child, but other potential victims.”
Vermont Partnership is searching for volunteer translators to render What Should Happen into French, Spanish, Bosnian, and Vietnamese, as was the case with previous editions. Parents, guardians, or anyone working with students may download and print What Should Happen When Your Child Reports School-based Aggression from www.vermontpartnership.org. Vermont Partnership is a proven, effective resource that Vermont leaders turn to for assistance, support and advocacy related to inclusion, diversity, and equity. For more information on training for school personnel on how to comply with state and federal anti-harassment statutes or presentations before parent and civic groups on their rights, roles, and responsibilities should contact Vermont Partnership at (802) 254-2972 or email info@vermontpartnership.org.