Manhattan Star Academy - Anti-Bullying & Harassment Policy

Scope:

This Anti-Bullying & Harassment Policy (“Policy”) applies to incidents of bullying, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and/or cyberbullying involving students enrolled at Manhattan Star Academy (“MSA” or “School”), a Young Adult Institute, Inc. Network (“YAI”) affiliate. This Policy applies to conduct occurring on School property, at School functions, during School-sponsored activities, during Schoolprovided transportation, and off School property where the conduct creates, or would foreseeably create, a risk of substantial disruption within the School environment.

Because MSA serves people with disabilities and varying communication, behavioral, developmental, and social-emotional needs, MSA will implement this Policy in a manner that is developmentally appropriate and accessible.

Questions about this policy may be directed to the Head of School (“Principal”) or the Principal’s designee.

Purpose:

The purpose of this Policy is to maintain a safe, supportive, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all students MSA serves, ages 3-21. Consistent with New York Education Law Title 1, Article 2-A (2025), MSA prohibits bullying, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and cyberbullying. This Policy is intended to promote student safety and well-being as well as establish reporting, investigation, and documentation procedures.

Definitions:

• Bullying and/or Harassment: “Bullying and/or harassment” is the creation of a hostile environment by conduct, or by threats, intimidation, or abuse, including cyberbullying, that:

  • has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance and/or their mental, emotional, or physical well-being;
  • reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety;
  • reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or
  • occurs off School property and creates, or would foreseeably create, a risk of substantial disruption within the School environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation, or abuse might reach School property.

  Bullying and/or harassment may include conduct that is physical, verbal, written, nonverbal, or electronic. Such conduct may consist of a single incident or a series of related incidents. For this definition, “threats, intimidation, or abuse” include verbal and nonverbal actions, such as slurs, jokes, insults, teasing, written words or symbols, images, videos, gestures, unwanted physical contact, exclusion from peer groups designed to humiliate or isolate, or other conduct that may create a hostile environment. “Cyberbullying” means bullying or harassment that occurs through any form of electronic communication, including but not limited to email, text messages, social media, or other digital platforms or technologies.

• School Property: “School property” includes any School building or structure, athletic playing field, playground, parking lot, or land within the School’s real-property boundary line, and any School bus or vehicle used for School transportation.
• School Function: “School function” means a School-sponsored extracurricular event or activity.

Policy:

Bullying and harassment are prohibited. MSA will respond promptly to reports of bullying or harassment and will take appropriate corrective, supportive, remedial, and disciplinary action reasonably calculated to stop prohibited conduct, prevent recurrence, protect student safety and well-being; and maintain an educational environment consistent with MSA’s mission.

Retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports bullying or harassment, participates in an investigation, or assists in addressing concerns arising under this Policy.

Reporting

Students, parents, guardians, and other individuals may report bullying or harassment verbally or in writing to any School employee, including but not limited to teachers, administrators, the Principal or the Principal’s designee, and other designated School personnel. MSA will make reasonable efforts to ensure students understand reporting options, safety supports, and investigative processes in a manner appropriate to the student’s developmental and communication profile.

Anonymous reports may also be made and will be reviewed and investigated to the extent possible in light of the information provided.

Any School employee who witnesses bullying or harassment, or who receives an oral or written report of bullying or harassment, must:

1. Promptly notify the Principal or the Principal’s designee orally no later than one (1) School day after the employee witnesses or becomes aware of the conduct; and
2. File a written report with the Principal or the Principal’s designee no later than two (2) School days after making the oral report.

Failure by an employee to comply with reporting obligations may result in corrective action consistent with School policies and procedures.

Investigation

Upon receipt of a report, the Principal or the Principal’s designee will promptly begin a fair, thorough, and developmentally appropriate investigation. The School will make reasonable efforts to conclude investigations and provide notice of outcomes promptly, typically within ten (10) School days of receiving a report, absent extenuating circumstances. Investigative steps may include:

• interviewing the alleged victim, the accused student, and relevant witnesses separately;
• collecting available evidence, including electronic communications or digital content;
• reviewing staff observations and relevant student information, including age, developmental level, and any communication, behavioral, or disability-related needs of the involved student(s);
• assessing credibility and consistency of information; and
• evaluating the totality of the circumstances.

MSA may also implement immediate safety measures at any point during the investigative process where necessary to protect student safety, educational access, or emotional well-being, including but not limited to increased supervision, staff support or monitoring, classroom, schedule, or seating adjustments, behavioral supports, or other individualized interventions.

The School will determine whether the reported conduct occurred and whether it constitutes bullying and/or harassment under this policy based on the preponderance of the evidence (i.e. whether it is more likely than not that the conduct occurred).

The School will provide developmentally appropriate notice of the investigation outcome to the alleged victim and, where appropriate, the student’s parent/guardian. The School will also provide notice to the accused student and, where appropriate, the accused student’s parent/guardian. Notices will be provided in a manner consistent with applicable privacy and confidentiality obligations.

Documentation

The School will document all reports of bullying and/or harassment and the investigative process that follows, including but not limited to:

• when the report of bullying or harassment was received;
• the nature of the allegations;
• witness interviews conducted;
• evidence reviewed;
• relevant findings;
• final determinations;
• interim safety measures or interventions implemented; and
• follow-up actions.

Violations of this Policy

If allegations of bullying and/or harassment are substantiated, MSA will take immediate action reasonably calculated to stop the conduct, prevent recurrence, protect students from retaliation, and address safety and educational concerns.

Students found to have violated this policy may receive developmentally appropriate disciplinary responses consistent with the accused student’s individualized needs and applicable disability -related protections, including but not limited to:

• counseling or therapeutic supports;
• behavioral interventions;
• academic accommodations;
• schedule adjustments;
• safety planning and increased supervision; or
• referrals to community-based services.

MSA recognizes that students may react behaviorally or physically when targeted by bullying. The School will consider the full context, student needs, and supports when responding to any incident involving alleged bullying and student conduct.

Training and Prevention

MSA will provide periodic training to employees on recognizing, preventing, and responding to bullying and/or harassment, including mandatory reporting obligations, investigation protocols, and intervention strategies.

Policy Publication and Distribution

This policy will be published on the School’s website or internal parent/student portal, shared annually with employees, parents, guardians, and students (in an age-appropriate format), and made available upon request in alternative formats to support accessibility.