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Concerns About Bullying

Information Regarding Your Survey

If you found this page without taking our survey, please take the time to complete the Parent Complaint Navigator Survey.

Thank you for coming to TEA with your concern about your child being bullied. If the situation poses an imminent threat to life or safety, notify the police immediately.

Through our general education complaint process, TEA will do everything we can to support you to the extent allowed by law. Below you can find important information that will help you advocate for your child. To access this page in the future, open a new window and bookmark the page in your browser, or email or text yourself a copy of the link. 

Important information about bullying:

  • According to law, a situation must meet specific criteria to be considered bullying or cyberbullying:   To determine whether the behaviors you are concerned about are considered bullying or cyberbullying under Texas law, the Texas School Safety Center has a helpful checklist you can access.
     
  • Every Texas public school is required to have a “Threat Assessment and Safe and Supportive School Team”: This team can also be a very helpful resource in determining if your situation meets bullying or cyberbullying criteria and what interventions and social-emotional supports are available. While your school may refer to this team by a different name, it is required under law, and any school staff member should be able to connect you to a member of the team.
     
  • TEA takes concerns about bullying very seriously. While Texas law does not allow TEA to overturn any disciplinary or enforcement decision made by the district, there are typically two ways the agency can support you and your child:


    1.The agency can help facilitate a resolution to your concern through a process called alternative dispute resolution (ADR). As part of ADR, we will connect you with your school district's superintendent, in writing, and formally ask that the district engage with you to attempt to reach an agreement that addresses your concern.

    2.If you notify us that your concern was not addressed through ADR, the agency can conduct a compliance review to ensure your district is following its policy related to bullying and complying with statutory and program requirements.

Getting Started

  1. Complete TEA's General Education Complaint Form online: When we receive your form, we will carefully review the situation and determine how we can best support you and your child.
     
  2. You can also file a local grievance: Every district’s process might be a little different. To find your district’s local grievance policy, ask an administrator how to access the relevant policies, which might be on the district’s board policy website. If you choose to file a local grievance, acting quickly is important to meet your school district’s reporting deadlines! You may be required to report your concern within 10–15 days of becoming aware of the issue. 
     
  3. Contact us if you need help—we're here for you: You can reach us at complaintsmanagement@tea.texas.gov or (512) 463-3544. When leaving a voicemail or sending an email, please include your first and last name, your phone number, your question, and any other relevant information.

Helpful Tips

  • Learn more about your district’s local bullying policy by referring to policy FFI (LOCAL) in your local district’s board policy website.
     
  • If you are filing a complaint with TEA on behalf of a parent or student over 18 years old, you must complete a Release Form: Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as FERPA, we must have a completed form signed by the parent or adult student to release information to you. Attach the completed release form to the complaint form or email to complaintsmanagement@tea.texas.gov.
     
  • Learn about your district’s grievance process by reviewing your district’s local policies. Pay particular attention to the following local grievance policies:
    - DGBA (LOCAL) for employee grievances;
    - FNG (LOCAL) for student and parent grievances; and
    - GF (LOCAL) for grievances by all others, including vendors and taxpayers.  
     
  • Visit TEA's webpage on local grievances: We provide tips on how to navigate the process.
     
  • Share your feedback with us: TEA values your opinion! Email us at teafeedback@tea.texas.gov.

Additional TEA Resources

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