WHAT IS HARASSMENT?

Harassment is unwelcome behavior about a student's age, color, disability, gender, national origin, gender identification, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation that interferes with the student's ability to learn, study, achieve, or participate in school activities. This behavior can be verbal, written, or physical. 

Some people think that harassment is just part of growing up or playing around, but harassment is against the law, School Board Policy and the Principles of Character Education. It makes a student feel humiliated, scared, confused, and angry. Harassment because of a person's age, color, disability, gender, national origin, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation shows lack of respect for fellow students and should not be ignored or accepted. The law and School Board policy applies to everyone. Teachers, administrators, coaches, volunteers, cafeteria staff, and students as well as others, are all prohibited from harassing students.  

Examples of Sexual Harassment include but are not limited to:

• Unwanted touching, such as pinching, patting, grabbing, poking, or rubbing against a student's body.
• Displaying or distributing sexually explicit drawings, pictures, and written material.
• Making a student participate in sexual conduct as a condition of taking part in school activities or getting an education.
• Telling or passing around sexual or "dirty" jokes.
• Touching oneself sexually or talking about one's sexual activities in front of others.

Examples of other forms of harassment include:

• Derogatory comments or insults pertaining to a student's age, color, disability, gender, national origin, gender identification, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Slurs, slang, jokes, or other negative labels that have been attached to the student relating to his/her age, color, disability, gender, national origin, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Derogatory pictures or material.
• Mocking an accent or speech impairment.
• Making fun of mental or physical impairment.
• Using school computers and e-mail to transmit, store, download, or display material that is obscene, discriminatory, or offensive. "Bullying" (verbal or physical threats/assault) another student because of his/her age, color, disability, gender, national origin, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Pressure to try drugs and sexting or texting inappropriate pictures, jokes, material, etc.

When the District has actual knowledge, with or without a formal complaint, of sexual harassment in its education program or activity against a person, it will respond promptly and in a manner that is not deliberately indifferent. (Any individual who works in the District who has knowledge of sexual harassment must report such behavior). Principals/Department Heads or designees must contact the Director of EEO/ADA Compliance/Title IX Coordinator, to report any complaints of sex discrimination including sexual harassment.

Supportive Measures:

Non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonable available, and without fee or charge to the complainant or the respondent before or after the filing of a formal complaint or where no formal complaint has been filed. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the District’s education programs or activities without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designated to protect the safety of all parties or the educational environment, or deter sexual harassment. Examples of supportive measures include, but are not limited to: • Counseling • Extensions of deadlines or other course-related assignments • Modifications of class schedules • Campus escort services • Mutual restrictions on contact between the parties • Leaves of absence • Increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus • Other similar measures.

Reporting Sexual Harassment

If you believe you are being sexually harassed, you have a right to file a sexual harassment claim and expect it to be fully investigated in a timely manner. The right of confidentiality, of both the complainant and the accused, will be fully protected in accordance with federal and state laws. 

Students who have experienced sexual harassment or have witnessed others being subjected to sexual harassment must report the behavior to their appropriate Principal/Assistant Principal (School Title IX Coordinator) and contact one of the following resources for assistance:

Wladimir G. Alvarez

Director, Equal Educational Opportunities/ADA Compliance
District Title IX Coordinator

Equal Educational Opportunities/ADA Compliance

600 SE 3rd Avenue, 14th Floor
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Phone: (754) 321-2150 Fax:(754) 321-2714

Broward District Schools Police Department/Professional Standards

754-321-0725