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All school boards, public
and those of accredited nonpublic schools, are to have the new anti-bullying/anti-harassment
policy adopted on or before September 1.
This is an accreditation issue.
Failure to adopt a policy with all required components could subject
a school or school district to a Phase II visit and possible loss of
accreditation. A sample policy is on
the websites of the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Association of
School Boards. Those required elements are as follows:
• A definition of harassment and bullying that is consistent with
the definition in the legislation (this is in the sample policy), and which
includes all of the following 17 traits/characteristics: real 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,
socioeconomic status, or familial status.
• A statement declaring harassment and bullying to be against
state and school policy, and making the policy applicable to all school
employees, volunteers, and students in school, on school property, or at any
school function or school-sponsored activity.
• A description of the type of behavior expected from school
employees, volunteers, parents or guardians, and students relative to
prevention measures, reporting, and investigation of harassment or bullying.
• The consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person
who violates the policy.
• A procedure for reporting an act of harassment or bullying,
including the identification by job title of the school official responsible
for ensuring that the policy is implemented, and the identification of the
person or persons responsible for receiving reports of harassment or bullying.
• A procedure for the prompt investigation of complaints, either
identifying the school superintendent or the superintendent's designee as the
individual responsible for conducting the investigation, including a statement
that investigators will consider the totality of circumstances presented in
determining whether conduct objectively constitutes harassment or bullying
under this section.
• A statement of the manner in which the policy will be
publicized.
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D.E. & State Board 
