How to Report Bullying to School/ Sample Letter

Parents should nofy the school each me their child

reports that they have been bullied at school. A

conversaon with the classroom teacher could be a

good place to start to address a bullying issue. While

talking with the school regarding the bullying incident

can be eecve, consider pung it in wring. Wrien

communicaon is important for creang a record.

There are two opons for reporng a bullying incident

to school ocials:

1. Request a bullying complaint form from the

school. Each school must have a process for reporng

an act of bullying or harassment. A bullying complaint

form can be used as a way for the child and/or parent to

report bullying to the school. This form is typically

available at the school and on the school’s website. Fill

out the form, make a copy for yourself, and submit the

original to school ocials.

2. Put your concerns in wring to the school detailing

the incident. Consider using the sample leer within

this document to provide important details to the

school.

Your communicaon should include:

• your child’s name;

• the date and locaon of incident;

• details including: who was involved, what

happened, how oen;

• witnesses to the incident;

• the impact of the incident on your child-

physically, emoonally and academically; and

• what has already been tried to stop the problem.

The communicaon should remain factual and absent of

opinions or emoonal statements and should be sent to

the Principal or school administrators. Request that the

school send you a copy of their bullying policy and

request that they follow-up with you about the bullying

incident.

These opons for reporng and documenng a bullying

incident serve two important purposes:

• Noes school ocials of the incident and your

desire for intervenon; and

• Serves as your wrien record when referring to

the incident.

Keep a copy of any wrien communicaon you send to

the school regarding the incident. Doing so will help to

keep a meline of events. If your original reporng was

sent electronically (email or text), consider sending a

hard copy to create a wrien record.

How can I empower my child?

It is important for junior high and high school students

to understand the most eecve way to report a

bullying incident to school ocials. Students may not

always tell adults if they are being bullied therefore it is

important to empower the child with informaon on

how to report the bullying incident themselves.

Help your child to understand that while telling school

ocials is important, documenng the incident on an

ocial complaint form is the most eecve way to

report a bullying incident.

Related Resources

Look for the following related resources on the ASK

website:

• Iowa’s An-Bullying Law

How to Report Bullying to School/

Sample Leer

This publicaon was developed with funds under grants from the U.S. Dept. of Educaon and

the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. The contents do not necessarily represent the

policy of those Departments, and the reader should not assume endorsement by the Federal

Government. ASK Resource Center is a member of the Parent to Parent USA Alliance, and also

serves as Iowa's Family Voices State Aliate Organizaon.

ASK Essenal Quesons

• Have I gathered the informaon I need to report

the bullying incident to the school?

• Have I put my concerns in wring?

Sample leer:

Phone (515) 243-1713 | Toll-free (800) 450-8667

askresource.org

Date

Dear ___________:

I am wring to report that my child ________________ (rst and last name of child), has informed me about being

bullied and I’d like to work with you to be sure that this concerning issue is addressed right away.

___________ (rst name of child) is in the ____ (grade level) at _____________ (name of school). _______ (she/he)

has been bullied by _____________ (name of people who have bullied). This happened on _____________ (date or

period of me) when _________________ (describe as many details of the incident(s) as can be recalled).

When this happened ______________ (name of witnesses) heard/saw it and ___________________ (their

response). We became aware of this incident when _____________________ (describe how you were noed).

_____________ (rst name of child) was hurt by this bullying and harassment. (She/He) has experienced

______________________________________ (describe physical injuries, emoonal suering and any medical or

psychological treatment required).

As you are likely aware, Iowa law Secon 280.28 protects the rights of a student against bullying. Please send

_________ (me/us) a copy of the district policies on bullying and harassment, invesgate this problem and correct it

as soon as possible. Please let ______ (me/us) know, in wring, of the acons you have taken to recfy the situaon

and to ensure it does not happen again.

If this does not resolve this issue, ____ (I/we) would like to request a meeng to be held as quickly as possible. I can

be reached during dayme hours at (phone number) or at the email address listed below.

Thank you for your prompt aenon to this serious problem.

Sincerely,

(Your name, address and email)

cc: (your child’s teacher; other relevant sta )

(The “cc:” indicates that you are sending a copy of the leer to the other individuals listed.)