Bullying Prevention & Reporting
Helping students, families, and staff recognize, prevent, and report bullying while promoting safe and supportive learning environments across Avoyelles Parish Schools.
What Is Bullying?
Understanding what qualifies as bullying helps families and schools respond appropriately and provide the right support.
Louisiana's Definition
Louisiana law defines bullying as a pattern of harmful behavior directed toward a student by another student or group of students. The behavior occurs more than once and causes physical or emotional harm, interferes with a student's education, or disrupts the school environment.
Important: An isolated disagreement or conflict may still require attention and school intervention, but it may not meet the legal definition of bullying.
Bullying Can Take Different Forms
Verbal
Name-calling, threats, taunting, malicious teasing, or spreading harmful rumors.
Social
Repeatedly and purposefully excluding, isolating, or humiliating another student.
Physical
Hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, or damaging or misusing another student's property.
Electronic
Harmful or threatening messages, images, or posts shared through phones, email, websites, or social media.
How to Report Bullying
Students, parents, guardians, employees, and witnesses should report suspected bullying as soon as possible.
Reporting a Concern
If you believe bullying has occurred, follow the steps below so the school can receive the information and respond appropriately.
Tell a School Employee
Report the concern to the principal, teacher, counselor, bus operator, or another trusted school employee.
Complete the Form
Provide the names of those involved and as much information as possible about what happened, when it happened, and where it occurred.
Submit It to the School
Return the completed form to the school principal or another appropriate school employee. Reports are handled confidentially as required by law.
Ready to Make a Report?
Use the official Louisiana Bullying Report Form. The form may be completed by the person reporting the incident or by the school employee receiving the report.
What Happens After a Report?
APS schools follow Louisiana requirements for responding to and investigating properly reported bullying complaints.
Parent Notification
The school will notify the parents or legal guardians of the students involved in accordance with state requirements.
Investigation Begins
The school begins its investigation by the next school day after receiving a properly reported complaint.
Investigation Is Completed
The investigation must generally be completed within ten school days after the written report is submitted.
Additional Information
Select a topic below to learn more about reporting, investigations, and support.
Who May Report Bullying?
A bullying concern may be reported by:
- A student who is experiencing bullying
- A student who witnesses bullying
- A parent or legal guardian
- A teacher, counselor, or administrator
- A bus operator or other school employee
- A chaperone supervising a school function or activity
What Information Should Be Included?
Include as much accurate information as possible, such as:
- The names of the students involved
- The date, time, and location of the incident
- A clear description of what happened
- The names of possible witnesses
- Copies or screenshots of relevant messages, images, or online posts
You should only answer questions you feel comfortable answering and can report accurately.
What If the School Does Not Act?
- If the school does not take timely and effective action, submit the concern to the Avoyelles Parish School Board using the official Bullying Incident Monitoring Form.
- The school system must begin investigating a properly reported complaint by the next school day after receiving it.
- If the school system does not take timely and effective action, the matter may be reported to the Louisiana Department of Education using the same monitoring form.
How Can Families Support a Student?
- Listen calmly and take the student seriously.
- Write down what happened, including dates, locations, and witnesses.
- Save screenshots, messages, or other available evidence.
- Encourage the student to report new incidents immediately.
- Work with the school to create a plan that helps the student feel safe and supported.
- Do not encourage the student to retaliate or respond with physical aggression.
Information for School Employees
Louisiana school employees who witness bullying or receive a bullying report are required to report the incident to a school official.
School employees should follow all district procedures for verbal reporting, written documentation, parent notification, and investigation.
The Bullying Investigation Form provided in the resources section below is intended for school personnel responsible for documenting the investigation.
Policies, Forms & Resources
Use the links below to access district policies, official forms, Louisiana guidance, and additional bullying-prevention resources.
Need Help Reporting a Concern?
Contact your child's school principal or call Avoyelles Parish Schools at 318-253-5982 . School staff can help you report a concern and identify the appropriate next steps.