Policies and Guidelines

The Tulare City School District believes that all students have a right to a safe, secure, and healthy school environment. Our schools, with support from the district and school communities, are committed to promoting an atmosphere of mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance.

The Tulare City School District will work diligently to discourage and prevent behavior that infringes on the safety of any student. The expectation is that students will not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. To prevent bullying from occurring on school campuses, the Tulare City School District will provide resources to school campuses that promote purposeful acceptance and understanding in all students and staff to build each school’s capacity to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. 

The California Department of Education defines bullying as a form of violence. It involves a real or perceived imbalance of power, with the more powerful child or group attacking those who are less powerful. Bullying may be physical (hitting, kicking, spitting, or pushing); verbal (taunting, malicious teasing, name calling, or threatening); or emotional (spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, extorting, or intimidating). Bullying can occur face-to-face or in the online world.

To the extent possible, district schools shall focus on the prevention of bullying by establishing clear rules for student conduct and implementing strategies to promote a positive, collaborative school climate. Please see each individual school website for specific strategies.

As appropriate, Tulare City School District shall provide students with instruction in the classroom or other educational settings that promotes effective communication and conflict resolution skills, social skills, character/values education, respect for cultural and individual differences, self-esteem development, assertiveness skills, and appropriate online behavior.