Children with Disabilities who are Bullied or Harassed at School
- Office for Safe Schools: The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office for Safe Schools coordinates school safety and security programs, collection of the annual school violence statistics, coordination of antiviolence efforts, and development of policies and strategies to combat school violence. The office supports and provides technical assistance and professional development programs in the following areas and security-related activities to support school safety: crisis intervention, school police training, violence prevention, and social/emotional wellness and safety provides services to all local school entities. Click this link for more information about the Office for Safe Schools and helpful resources.
- Bullying Prevention: The Office for Safe Schools bullying prevention webpage contains resources for parents, educators and professionals serving youth in school and out-of-school time settings. Click this link for more information including the toll-free number for the Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Consultation Line.
- OCR Dear Colleague Letter Responding to Bullying of Students with Disabilities: This letter explains the federal protections that exist for students with disabilities under both the IDEA and Section 504 and how bullying a student with a disability on any basis can result in a violation of FAPE. It helps schools understand their legal obligations and urges them to work proactively to create a safe environment for all students.