Anti-Bullying and Sexual Harassment Procedures | E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
« All News

Anti-Bullying and Sexual Harassment Procedures

Updated May 2026

Anti-Bullying and Sexual Harassment Policy

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE

E.L. Haynes Public Charter School is committed to ensuring that all students have the right to feel physically and emotionally safe. Bullying and sexual harassment are harmful behaviors that negatively impact school climate, student well-being, and academic success.

E.L. Haynes will actively work to create and sustain a safe and inclusive environment through:

  • Proactive prevention and education
  • Immediate intervention and reporting
  • Consistent, equitable, and developmentally appropriate consequences
  • Restorative and supportive practices

DEFINITIONS

E.L. Haynes defines bullying as any severe, pervasive, or persistent act or conduct, whether physical, electronic, or verbal, that:

  1. May be based on a youth’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intellectual ability, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, place or residence or business, or any other distinguishing characteristic, or a youth’s association with a person, or group with any person, with one or more of the actual or perceived foregoing characteristics; and,
  2. Can reasonably be predicted to:
    1. Place the youth in reasonable fear of physical harm to their person or property;
    2. Cause a substantial detrimental effect on the youth’s physical or mental health;
    3. Substantially interfere with the youth’s academic performance or attendance; or
    4. Substantially interfere with the youth’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by an agency, educational institution, or grantee.

Some examples of bullying include:

  • Pushing, hitting, kicking, or throwing things at someone.
  • Stealing or damaging another person’s property.
  • Name-calling or teasing, in person or online.
  • Threatening to hurt someone, in person or online.
  • Leaving someone out on purpose and without a good reason.
  • Spreading rumors about someone, in person or online.

E.L. Haynes defines sexual harassment as unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual Harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes sexual violence, which E.L. Haynes defines as physical, sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent. Sexual harassment can be carried out by school employees, other students, or third parties. This policy applies to sexual harassment by other students. Complaints of sexual harassment by school employees or third parties should be made under E.L. Haynes’ Grievance Procedures, which are available in the Family Handbook.

EXPECTED CONDUCT

Students are expected to contribute to a safe and respectful environment by:

  • Treating others with kindness and respect
  • Using appropriate conflict resolution strategies
  • Seeking adult support when needed

Students are encouraged to respond to peer conflict by:

  • Ignoring or disengaging
  • Moving away
  • Speaking assertively (“Please stop”)
  • Seeking adult help

Level 1 (First Incident)

  • Redirection and intervention
  • Student conference
  • Parent contact
  • Apology and reflection

Level 2 (Second Incident)

  • Conference with an Administrator/Dean
  • Parent meeting
  • Behavior contract
  • Restorative intervention

Level 3 (Third Incident)

  • Parent-student conference
  • Referral to support staff (e.g., social work)
  • Loss of privileges or detention

Level 4 (Repeated/Serious Behavior)

  • Increased disciplinary action
  • Possible suspension
  • Ongoing intervention plan

Level 5 (Severe or Persistent Behavior)

  • Suspension or recommendation for expulsion

SUPPORTS AND SERVICES

E.L. Haynes provides support for both targets and students engaging in bullying behavior, including:

  • Counseling and social work services
  • Behavior intervention plans
  • Restorative practices

Secondary services aim to support at-risk youth and address risk behaviors before they become serious safety or disciplinary issues. To this end, remedial measures will be tailored to the youth receiving them to build on their strengths while addressing skill and behavioral deficits. E.L. Haynes uses the system of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and restorative practices to build on youth strengths while addressing behavior deficits and harm to the community.

Resources will be provided directly to youth, including peer support groups, alternative educational or institutional placements, behavior management plans, parent conferences, or service-learning experiences. If E.L. Haynes does not have access to services appropriate to a youth’s needs, they will refer the youth to an outside agency that can address these needs rather than substituting other services that E.L. Haynes can provide.

  • Peer support opportunities

Referrals to outside agencies will be made when necessary.

PREVENTION AND TRAINING

  • Annual staff training on bullying prevention and response
  • Ongoing student education (advisory, SEL, restorative practices)
  • Use of PBIS and MTSS frameworks

All staff at E.L. Haynes will actively seek out youth who are at risk of being victims or instigators to proactively remedy incidents of bullying/sexual harassment before they occur. Suppose E.L. Haynes’ data collection efforts identify a location on E.L. Haynes’ premises as being particularly prone to hosting incidents of bullying/sexual harassment. In that case, the Principal will take steps to improve the safety and security of that location for E.L. Haynes youth by reducing traffic to such areas, altering schedules of activity groups, or increasing supervision. E.L. Haynes will take measures to address an at-risk location no more than one month after receiving information on the presence of such an area on E.L. Haynes’s premises.

  • Identification of at-risk students and environments

DATA MONITORING AND REPORTING

  • Bullying data will be tracked and reviewed regularly
  • Reports will be submitted annually to the District as required
  • Data will be shared in aggregate form to protect confidentiality

APPEALS

Any party may appeal the outcome of an investigation within 30 days in writing to the Board of Trustees Chair.

  • A secondary review will be completed within 30 days
  • A written response will be provided
  • Additional remedies may be pursued under applicable laws

INVESTIGATION CONTACTS BY CAMPUS (Investigator of Record)

  1. Central Support Staff: Melissa Beasley, Director of Health & Wellness, (202) 276-7431, mbeasley@elhaynes.org
  2. Elementary School: Chad Quinn, Dean of Culture, (202) 766-7227, cquinn@elhaynes.org
  3. Middle School: Ciarra Neal, Dean of Culture, (202) 725-4644, cneal@elhaynes.org
  4. High School: Nicole Smith, Dean of Culture, 202-903-7525, nsmith@elhaynes.org

COMMITMENT

E.L. Haynes is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful school environment where all students can thrive.

PROHIBITED CONDUCT

Acts of bullying, including cyberbullying and sexual harassment, whether by youth, volunteers, or staff, are prohibited:

  1. On E.L. Haynes grounds and immediately adjacent property, at E.L. Haynes -sponsored or related events on and off E.L. Haynes grounds, on any vehicle used for E.L. Haynes business, at any transit stop at which youth wait to be transported to E.L. Haynes business, or through the use of any electronic devices owned by E.L. Haynes, leased by E.L. Haynes, or used for E.L. Haynes business; and
  2. At a location unrelated to the E.L. Haynes, through the use of any electronic devices, including those not owned or leased by the E.L. Haynes, if the acts of bullying or cyberbullying create a hostile environment at the school for the victim or witnesses, infringe on their rights at E.L. Haynes, or substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the school.

Retaliation against a youth, volunteer, or staff member who reports bullying/sexual harassment, provides information about an act of bullying/sexual harassment, or witnesses an act of bullying/sexual harassment is also prohibited.

REPORTING INCIDENTS OF BULLYING / SEXUAL HARASSMENT

(DC Code § 2-1535.03(b)(6))

E.L. Haynes expects all staff members and volunteers to report incidents of bullying/sexual harassment or retaliation. Staff members should immediately record all such incidents in SchoolForce, following procedures for reporting behavior incidents. Any student who believes that they have been bullied/sexually harassed or who has seen another student being bullied/sexually harassed should report the problem immediately to a teacher or other adult on campus. 

Any ELH employee or parent who witnesses a bullying/sexual harassment incident should report it to the Dean, campus Principal, social worker, Director of Student Wellness, or any other staff person (contact information is available online at www.elhaynes.org or you may contact either campus via phone). 

 No formal response will be taken on an anonymous report alone. Such a report may trigger an investigation that results in disciplinary action.

INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS OF BULLYING / SEXUAL HARASSMENT (DC Code § 2-1535.03(b)(7))

If an incident of bullying, harassment, or intimidation is reported, E.L. Haynes will initiate an investigation within two (2) business days of receiving a report and make a good-faith attempt within the same 2-day window to inform the parents/guardians of both the target and alleged perpetrator, unless notification would endanger the youth.

Complaints or reports of bullying/sexual harassment will be investigated in an adequate, reliable, and impartial manner. Each investigation will include, as necessary, interviewing witnesses, obtaining documents, and allowing parties to present evidence. All documentation related to the investigation will remain confidential. The staff will take steps to ensure all parties’ safety and determine whether the incident was bullying/sexual harassment. The staff will also take steps to provide the complainant with periodic updates on the investigation status. Once bullying/sexual harassment behavior has been determined, the following groups will be notified as needed by E.L. Haynes, making every effort to protect the confidentiality of those who report bullying/sexual harassment:

  • Parents and guardians: E.L. Haynes will notify the parents or guardians of victims, instigators, and witnesses, as appropriate, about the nature of the incident and the steps in place to respond to it. The Principal will determine if parents or guardians should be informed before or after the incident investigation.
  • Schools: E.L. Haynes will notify the schools of all victims and instigators in an incident of bullying/harassment to ensure that youth are not victimized across schools and that comprehensive service and protection can be provided.
  • Law enforcement agencies: If E.L. Haynes determines that the reported incident may involve criminal activity or the basis for criminal charges, information about the incident must be conveyed to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Within thirty (30) days of receiving a report of bullying, the Dean will conduct the investigation and respond to the parents of the students involved in writing, summarizing the course of the investigation and its outcome, and identifying an appropriate resolution. If it is determined that bullying/sexual harassment has occurred, appropriate corrective and remedial action will be taken. E.L. Haynes will decide whether a reported incident constitutes bullying/harassment based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. E.L. Haynes will use a preponderance of the evidence standard (i.e., more likely than not that bullying/sexual harassment occurred) when resolving complaints.

Steps will be taken to protect suspected victims of bullying/sexual harassment during the investigation process. E.L. Haynes will make every effort to preserve confidentiality during the investigation. The individual responsible for conducting the investigation will be responsible for determining confidentiality.

CONSEQUENCES AND INTERVENTIONS

E.L. Haynes recognizes that for sanctions to be a practical component of a bullying/sexual harassment prevention plan, they must be applied consistently, fairly, and equitably. To this end, E.L. Haynes will ensure that staff follow these guidelines as closely as possible while allowing flexibility to adapt sanctions to individual contexts. For violations of the anti-bullying policy, the consequences below will be applied in sequential order. These sanctions and remedies are designed to correct the bullying/sexual harassment behavior appropriately; (b) prevent another occurrence of bullying/sexual harassment or retaliation; (c) protect the target of bullying/sexual harassment; and are flexible and can be varied in method and severity based on: (i) nature of the incident; (ii) developmental age of the person committing the act at issue, and; (iii) any history of problem behavior from the person committing the act at issue. The Principal may apply more than one consequence or skip a step, depending on the severity and nature of the violation.

  1. Level 1 (First Incident): Student-Teacher/ELH Staff Member Conference; Parent Contact by phone; Formal Student Apology to Bullied/Harassed Student; Tier 1 Discipline Consequence.
  2. Level 2 (Second Incident): Student Conference with Restorative Justice Coordinator and/or Administrator; Student-Parent Conference with Restorative Justice Coordinator and/or Administrator; Formal Student Apology to Bullied/Harassed Student; Behavior Plan/Anti-Bullying/Harassment Contract; Tier 2 Discipline Consequence.
  3. Level 3 (Third Incident): Parent-Student Conference with Administrator; Review of Behavior Plan/Anti-Bullying/Harassment Contract; Tier 3 Discipline Consequence, which may include suspension.
  4. Level 4 (Fifth Incident): Parent-Student Conference with Administrator; Review of Behavior Plan/Anti-Bullying/Harassment Contract; Tier 4 Discipline Consequence, which may include suspension.
  5. Level 5 (Sixth Incident): Parent-Student Conference with Administrator; Review of Behavior Plan/Anti-Bullying/Harassment Contract; Tier 5 Discipline Consequence, which may include recommendations for expulsion.

REPORTING TO THE CITYWIDE COORDINATOR

E.L. Haynes will report bullying prevention and incident metrics to the citywide coordinator annually. The E.L. Haynes report will include the aggregate incidents of bullying and any other information that the Mayor determines is necessary or appropriate. To ensure confidentiality, reports provided to outside agencies will not include identifying information about the parties involved in an incident and will report data only in the aggregate.

APPEALS

Any party dissatisfied with the outcome of the initial investigation and response from E.L. Haynes may appeal in writing to the Chair of the Board of Trustees within thirty days of the response date, summarizing the outcome of the investigation. The written appeal must contain the person’s reasons for not accepting the response from E.L. Haynes. In letter form, the appeal may be submitted to the Head of School, who will relay it to the Chair of the Board of Trustees. E.L. Haynes will complete a secondary investigation within 30 days of receipt of an appeal unless (i) circumstances require additional time to complete a thorough investigation, (ii) the higher-level authority sets forth those circumstances in writing, and the additional time is not to exceed 15 days. Within 30 days of receiving the results of the secondary investigation, the Chair of the Board of Trustees will respond in writing to the person appealing as to the action to be taken. Additionally, all parties may seek further redress under the Human Rights Act.

DC / OSSE COMPLIANCE CROSSWALK

This policy aligns with District of Columbia requirements, including DC Code § 2-1535, OSSE bullying prevention guidance, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the DC Human Rights Act.

• DC Code § 2-1535: Definitions, reporting, investigation timelines, and appeals are included.
• OSSE Guidance: Prevention, tiered interventions, and data tracking are addressed.
• Title IX: Sexual harassment definitions, grievance pathways, and protections are included.
• DC Human Rights Act: Protections against discrimination based on protected characteristics are embedded throughout.

TITLE IX AND NON-DISCRIMINATION COMPLIANCE

E.L. Haynes prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, as required under Title IX. All reports involving potential Title IX violations will be addressed promptly and equitably. Students have the right to supportive measures regardless of whether a formal complaint is filed.

The school also complies with the DC Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, and other protected categories.

STAFF PHYSICAL TOUCH AND CONSENT PROTOCOL (TRAUMA-INFORMED)

Purpose: This protocol establishes clear expectations for staff physical interaction with students, grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and student-centered practices.

Guiding Principles:

  • Safety: Physical contact must prioritize the student’s physical and emotional safety.
  • Consent: Students have the right to refuse physical contact at any time.
  • Awareness: Staff must recognize that students may have trauma histories affecting their touch response.
  • Professional Boundaries: All touch must be appropriate, observable, and limited in duration.

Permitted Physical Contact:

  • Brief, non-invasive gestures (e.g., high-fives, handshakes) when initiated or welcomed by the student
  • Safety-related intervention when necessary to prevent harm
  • Supportive gestures when appropriate and consent is given (e.g., side hug if student initiates)

Prohibited Physical Contact:

  • Any form of sexual, coercive, or intimidating touch
  • Touch that isolates a student from public view
  • Physical contact is used as punishment
  • Ignoring verbal or nonverbal signs of discomfort

Required Practices:

  • Ask for consent when feasible (“Is it okay if I…?”)
  • Respect the refusal immediately
  • Document and report any incident involving safety-related physical intervention
  • Use de-escalation strategies before physical intervention whenever possible

Training:
All staff will receive annual training on trauma-informed practices, boundaries, and appropriate student interaction. E.L. Haynes will provide to all personnel whose duties consistently bring them into contact with youth by design or incident, training on E.L. Haynes’ prevention curriculum, as well as the procedures for responding to and reporting an incident of bullying/sexual harassment. Staff will also learn to engage with each other and the youth reflectively to build an agency-wide atmosphere of respect. This training will be provided regularly to E.L. Haynes staff by the opening of each academic school year and continued through anti-bullying lessons during advisory. 

Publication and Contact Information

This policy and a list of anti-bullying/sexual harassment resources will be made available on E.L. Haynes’ website. The policy will be available to youth and parents of youth in contact with E.L. Haynes at any time upon request, and E.L. Haynes will emphasize that the policy applies to participation in functions sponsored by E.L. Haynes.

The Director of Student Wellness is responsible for coordinating E.L. Haynes bullying/sexual harassment prevention efforts. All questions, comments, and concerns about the bullying/sexual harassment policy and E.L. Haynes prevention efforts should be able to be directed to the Director of Student Wellness at (202) 667-4446 ext 3531.

ADDITIONAL ANTI-BULLYING AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT RESOURCES

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

RESOURCES RELATING TO LGBTQ STUDENTS

RESOURCES RELATING TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

GENERAL RESOURCES AND THOSE RELATING TO SCHOOL CLIMATE

Help us create a more just and kind world.

Enroll your student Support our work Join our team