The Carteret School District is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all our students. 

“Harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that:

1. Is reasonably perceived as being motivated by either any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic;
2. Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds, as provided for in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.3;
3. Substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students; and that
4. A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act(s) will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or
5.   Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or
6. Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

"The statutory definition of "bullying" does not include all violent or aggressive conduct against a student. The definition, both before and after adoption of the 2010 Anti-Bullying Act, refers to conduct that is "reasonably perceived as being motivated" by a "distinguishing characteristic" of the victim, such as, "race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical, or sensory [disability]" N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14."

"The statute has not limited "distinguishing characteristic" to those specifically enumerated, but is has consistently required such a perceived motivation. Thus, harmful or demeaning conduct motivated only by another reason, for example, a dispute about relationships or personal belongings, or aggressive conduct without identifiable motivation, does not come within the statutory definition of bullying."

Reference: K.L. v. Evesham Township Bd. of Educ., 423 N.J. Super. 337, 351 (2011)

• Policy
• Self Assessment for Determining Grades - HIB

Related Links

• Stop Bullying (http://www.stopbullying.gov/)
• NJ Bullying (http://www.njbullying.org/)
• Stop Cyberbullying (http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/)
• Guidance for Schools on Implementing the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (http://www.nj.gov/education/students/safety/behavior/hib/guidance.pdf)