What to do if your child is being bullied?

If you are a parent (or legal guardian) and your child is being bullied at school, or you think your child is being bullied, here are some things you can and should do include:

• Email the classroom teacher, the SPED Director and the school Principal (or the Headmaster, if at a charter school) about your concerns;
• Meet with your child's teacher and follow that meeting up with an IEP about what you discussed;
• Ask for an IEP meeting (and remember, is a child with a disability is being bullied, that could be a denial of FAPE and/or disability harrassment);
• Read the school district and school's policies on bullying to assure the school is following its own policy which includes conducting an investigation. Arizona state law requires school districts to have anti-bullying laws. Make sure you know what your school district's  (or charter school's) policy is on anti-bullying.   

 Most important - make sure there is a record (emails are fine) of your reports of bullying, or even of suspected bullying.  Know what bullying is, and what it is not.

Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, www.azspecialeducationlawyers.com