District Advocates (also referred to as Bullying Advocates) are here to support students and families through the difficulty of navigating student-related incidents where school-level mediations have been unsuccessful and additional assistance is needed.
It is our desire for students and families to feel heard and supported throughout this process. Advocates, schools, and families will work together to develop a resolution that enables students to successfully re-engage at their enrolled school and fosters a community where all students thrive.
When to Request an Advocate
Advocates may intervene after a bullying, harassment, or intimidation investigation has been completed at the school level and families feel:
- The investigation was not conducted thoroughly or fairly,
- Concerns were not fully heard or addressed, or
- The outcome did not resolve the conflict or provide appropriate next steps.
To better understand the bullying investigation process and the steps schools must take when responding to complaints, please review the flowcharts below.
To request Advocate support for your student, please complete the Request a District Advocate form. A member of our team will follow up with you as soon as possible.
Bullying Policy & Definitions
Policy 6.304 Student Discrimination/Harassment/Hazing and Bullying/Intimidation states: “The Hamilton County Board of Education is fully committed to providing a safe and [supportive] learning environment for all students in order for them to achieve academic success. This environment shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, sexual harassment, hazing, bullying or cyber-bullying… It is a violation of board policy for any employee or any student to discriminate against or harass another student on the basis of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, or religion. Discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated.”
Bullying: defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. The imbalance of power involves the use of physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity to control or harm others.
Cyberbullying: bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets, as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Examples may include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social network sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
Harassment: Any unwelcome conduct based on a protected class under the federal civil rights laws that is severe, pervasive or persistent and creates a hostile environment that interferes with or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school.
