Dating violence will not be tolerated.

Dating violence occurs when a person in a current or past dating relationship uses physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control the other person in the relationship or any of the person’s past or subsequent partners. This type of conduct is considered harassment if it is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; or substantially interferes with the student’s academic performance.

Examples of dating violence against a student may include, but are not limited to:

• Physical or sexual assaults;

• Name-calling;

• Put-downs;

• Threats to hurt the student, the student’s family members, or members of the student’s household;

• Destroying property belonging to the student;

• Threats to commit suicide or homicide if the student ends the relationship;

• Threats to harm a student’s past or current dating partner;

• Attempts to isolate the student from friends and family;

• Stalking; or

• Encouraging others to engage in these behaviors.

A student may make anonymous reports about safety concerns by Stay Alert

Any student who believes that he or she has experienced dating violence, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should immediately report the problem to a teacher, school counselor, principal, or other district employees. The report may be made by the student’s parents. [See policy FFH(LOCAL) and (EXHIBIT) for other appropriate district officials to whom to make a
report.]

Upon receiving a report, the district will determine whether the allegations, if proven, constitute prohibited conduct as defined by policy FFH. If not, the district will refer to policy FFI to determine whether the allegations, if proven, constitute bullying, as defined by law and policy FFI. If the alleged prohibited conduct also meets the statutory and policy definitions for bullying, an investigation of bullying will also be conducted. [See Bullying]

The district will promptly notify the parents of any student alleged to have experienced prohibited conduct involving an adult associated with the district. In the event alleged prohibited conduct involves another student, the district will notify the parents of the student alleged to have experienced the prohibited conduct when the allegations, if proven, would constitute a violation as defined by policy FFH.

A flier from the Texas Attorney General’s office includes information on recognizing and responding to dating violence, including contact information for help. The counselor’s office has additional information about the dangers of dating violence and resources for seeking help. For more information on dating violence, see the CDC’s Preventing Teen Dating Violence.

Allegations of prohibited conduct, which includes dating violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, will be promptly investigated.

To the extent possible, the district will respect the privacy of the student. However, limited disclosures may be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and comply with law.

If a law enforcement or other regulatory agency notifies the district that it is investigating the matter and requests that the district delay its investigation, the district will resume its investigation at the conclusion of the agency’s investigation.

During the course of an investigation and when appropriate, the district will take interim action to address the alleged prohibited conduct.

If the district’s investigation indicates that prohibited conduct occurred, appropriate disciplinary action and, in some cases, corrective action will be taken to address the conduct. The district may take disciplinary and corrective action even if the conduct was not unlawful.

All involved parties will be notified of the outcome of the district investigation within the
parameters and limits allowed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). A student or parent who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation may appeal in accordance with policy FNG(LOCAL).