DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK

CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1502 TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org

S

  

TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

T. WILLARD FAIR,

Chairman

Members

DR. AKSHAY DESAI

MARK KAPLAN

ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ

JOHN R. PADGET

KATHLEEN SHANAHAN

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:

District School Superintendents

 

FROM:

Dr. Frances Haithcock

 

DATE:

October 29, 2010

 

SUBJECT: U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights – Bullying and

Harassment and Federal Antidiscrimination Laws

 

 

On Tuesday, October 26, 2010, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights

(OCR) issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” regarding bullying and harassment. The letter can be

viewed at:

 

t/ocr/letters/colleague-201010.html

 

 

The letter emphasizes that some instances of student misconduct considered bullying and

harassment may also be deemed a violation under one or more federal antidiscrimination laws.

It includes hypothetical examples and an attached fact sheet to help schools and districts

comply with statutes enforced by OCR. Please review the letter and confirm that your district’s

Policy Prohibiting Bullying and Harassment addresses all the requirements under the relevant

federal statutes outlined in the letter. Additionally, please ensure that your principals have

access to the OCR letter found on the website referenced above.

 

FH/br

 

cc: District Bullying Prevention Contacts

District Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinators

District Safety and Security Contacts

District Student Support Services Contacts

District ESE Directors

District MIS Directors

 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

Dr. Eric J. Smith

Commissioner of Education

Contact Information:

Brooks Rumenik

(850) 245-0416

Brooks.Rumenik@fldoe.org