*Safe and Supportive School Program Team is a state mandated team that conducts threat assessments.

It is
responsible for collecting and analyzing harmful, threatening, and violent behavior, which includes bullying, to assess
threat and risk levels and determine appropriate interventions. Every Texas public school must be served by a Safe and
Supportive School Program Team.

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2024
 BULLYING is it Bullying?
Was it a single significant act?

CHECKLIST
FOR SCHOOLS
By one or more students directed at another
student that exploits an imbalance of power

PLEASE READ Through physical conduct

Using verbal expression
BEFORE USING CHECKLIST
Using electronic means
To determine whether an act is bullying or cyberbullying
by law, proceed down the checklist and provide a
Physically harms a student or damages
their property
act is not considered bullying by state law. Creates reasonable fear of harm to student or
damage to their property
SB 179, “David’s Law” expanded authority to school
Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive
districts, allowing public and charter schools to address
cyberbullying off-campus and outside of school-related or
I

help parents, educators, and administrators determine if a

student at their school has been bullied according to the Ma

Did the act occur outside of a (i.e. Cellular or other phone, computer, camera, e-mail, text
or instant messaging, social media app, Internet website,

school district’s authority to include cyberbullying incidents

that occur off campus and outside a school-sponsored or
On school property
below criteria.)
At a school-sponsored or school-related

On school bus or vehicle used to transport

students
Did the act interfere with a student’s

Yes, it’s Bullying

(Cyberbullying is bullying)

According to law, if the act DID NOT meet the criteria

above, it is not under the school district’s authority.
[Link]
TxSSC, 2024 2
 The examples provided below are not an exhaustive list. They are provided to support you through the checklist to determine whether
the act(s) meet the legal definition of bullying.

Was it a single significant act? What makes a single act ‘significant’ is the severe or pervasive effect it has on the target (victim) of
the bullying. Examples of single significant acts include a student who is severely physically injured by their bully or a student who
is told to kill themself. It can occur electronically, for example, an intimate photo is stolen and posted online, or a video showing a
student being ridiculed is uploaded onto social media. With social media, it can be difficult to determine whether an act of
bullying occurred once or was a pattern of acts. This is one reason why David’s Law amended the Texas Education Code to include
a single significant act. As hurtful comments, images, or videos may be posted one time, each comment, like, or share, as well as
the permanent nature of the internet and technology adds additional pain to the target of the bullying. The important thing to
focus on is not whether the act meets ‘significant’ status, but whether it is significant to the target of the bullying.

Was it a pattern of acts? There is no timeline for bullying behavior to be considered a pattern of acts. Repeated acts can occur
within a short period of time or they can span months or even years. For example, a student is physically bullied in sixth grade,
and is then cyberbullied in seventh grade when altered images and hurtful comments are posted online by the same student who
bullied them in sixth grade. Or a student is repeatedly called hurtful names and has things thrown at them every time they walk
down the school hallway.

By one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power. An imbalance of power is a subjective
determination and can include physical, social, emotional, informational, or other threats to a students’ emotional wellbeing. This
can change over time even if it involves the same students.

Power may include physical strength and stature, social status at school or on social media, or having access to embarrassing
photos or personal information. For example, a student threatens to tell everyone at school that the target of their bullying lives at
a shelter, or that the target’s parents are unemployed. Another example is a student with a large social media following who has
access to unflattering photos of the target and threatens to post the photos online.

Through physical conduct Bullying through physical conduct can include impeding or blocking someone from moving, damaging
property, pinching, flicking, poking, punching, slapping, hitting, being pushed down the stairs, or invading someone’s personal
space in an aggressive manner with the intent to intimidate. Bullying through physical conduct, such as flicking or pinching, can
sometimes be dismissed as immature or childish behavior. Avoid minimizing or dismissing the behavior, especially when it meets
all bullying checklist criteria.

Using verbal expression Bullying through verbal expression can include name calling, derogatory comments, ridiculing, threats to
cause harm, or threats to take away friendship. It is important to distinguish between when a student is being rude or mean, and
when they are bullying. Rude and mean comments hurt, but for it to rise to the level of bullying it would need to meet all checklist
criteria.

Using written expression Bullying through written expression can include writing hurtful comments or threats in notes, on photos,
lockers, mirrors, walls, or on paper or other material.

Using electronic means Bullying through electronic means includes using technology such as smartphones or computers to bully
others. It can also include the use of a camera, e-mail, text or instant messaging, social media application, or internet website.
Examples include spreading rumors or gossip through social media, taking and sending embarrassing pictures or videos without
permission, creating a fake profile and pretending to be another student, threatening violence through group bullying,
photoshopping someone’s image to humiliate, harass, or embarrass, or recording and posting fight videos. The technology and
devices used can be personal, or school issued.

TxSSC, 2024 3
 Physically harms a student or damages their property Physical harm could include bruises, cuts, burns, or a broken bone. Bullying
can also include damage to property, including clothing, bookbags, smartphones, or laptops.

Creates reasonable fear of harm to student or damage to their property It is important to understand the fear of harm that
bullying causes, either to a person or their property. For example, a student is told “you’ll be sorry if you come to school tomor-
row” and as a result the student is in fear of going to school. In this context, ‘reasonable’ fear of harm applies to whether other
people in the same situation would feel similarly.

Intimidating educational environment The target of the bullying feels intimidated at school, and as a result, the school
environment is not a safe place for them. For example, the student is fearful of going to class because the student who is bullying
them is in the same class.

Threatening educational environment The target of the bullying feels threatened at school, and as a result, the school
environment is not a safe place for them. For example, the student is threatened online for asking a particular girl to prom and is
fearful to return to school. Or the student is told that they will “regret it” if they try out for the track team.

Abusive educational environment The target of the bullying feels abused at school, and as a result, the school environment is not
a safe place for them. For example, the student is pushed down the stairs, or the student’s friends are told to not sit with them at
lunch.

Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or operation of school The bullying or the impact of the bullying is
significant enough to disrupt or interfere with the education process, the classroom, or school operations. For example, a teacher
is unable to cover instructional content as a significant amount of class time is spent addressing the student who is bullying. Or
students, even those who may not be a target, are fearful to go to class or have difficulty receiving instruction because of the
behavior of the student who is bullying.

Infringes on the rights of the victim at school The bullying or impact of the bullying restricts the rights of the target who is being
bullied. For example, a student is afraid to go to the restroom or try out for a team because of being bullied.

TxSSC, 2024 4