We want all of our students to feel safe and supported. Harassment, bullying, hazing, and other forms of victimization are prohibited in the Iowa City Community School District. We take reports of this nature very seriously and want you to know we are here to help.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying/Harassment is "Any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student based on the individual's actual or perceived age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socio-economic status, or familial status, and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:

• Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the person or their property
• Has substantial detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's academic performance
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school"

Conflict is not bullying. Conflict is "A disagreement or antagonism between two or more people. All parties involved have some responsibility in the encounter. It is not bullying when two or more kids with no perceived power imbalance fight, have an argument, or disagree."