Does Massachusetts have a law to protect public school students from bullying?

Yes. Massachusetts has one of the strongest anti-bullying laws in the country. It has strict requirements that schools must follow to protect students from a wide variety of bullying, be it physical, verbal, or online. Many of these requirements apply to 全部 schools, whether public, private, or charter. Some of the key provisions of the law include:

  • Every school, with the exception of some private schools, must have in place a comprehensive anti-bullying policy;
  • Each plan shall recognize that certain students may be more vulnerable to becoming a target of bullying or harassment based on actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, including gender identity or expression and sexual orientation or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics. The plan shall include the specific steps that each school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private day or residential school and collaborative school shall take to support vulnerable students and to provide all students with the skills, knowledge and strategies needed to prevent or respond to bullying or harassment.
  • A student’s parents or guardians must be notified if the school learns that they have been bullied;
  • Teachers and other school staff must receive training on how to handle bullying and are required to report bullying to the administration;
  • Each school must teach students about bullying.

For detailed information about the requirements for the anti-bullying plan each school must have, visit the Department of Education’s website.

Does Massachusetts have guidance schools should follow to protect transgender students?

Yes, Massachusetts has created guidance for schools on the rights, responsibilities and best educational practices for transgender and gender non-conforming students.

该指南包括以下内容：

  • 学校应该尊重跨性别学生的姓名和代词；
  • 学校应尊重跨性别学生的医疗信息、曾用名等隐私；
  • 学生记录上的姓名和性别应符合学生的性别认同；
  • 跨性别学生应该能够使用符合其性别认同的洗手间、更衣室和更衣设施；
  • 在任何性别隔离的活动中（包括体育运动），跨性别学生都应该能够以符合其性别认同的方式参与。

Learn more about this guidance.

如果我在学校受到歧视或欺凌，我该怎么办？

解决这个问题的方法有很多。一种方法是向朋友、老师或咨询师寻求支持，并与那些困扰你的人交谈。但是，如果你觉得这样做不安全，那么这种方法就不适用了。

Take a look at your school policies and notify whoever is supposed to be notified — usually a vice principal or Title IX coordinator. You should document any incidents of harassment or discrimination in writing with at least the date and time. Once you meet with the right officials, write yourself notes about what you told them and on what date and ask when they will be getting back to you with a response. If they don’t help you or don’t follow through, you may wish to write to the principal and superintendent and ask for them to end the discrimination.

If this fails, you may also wish to consider legal action against the town by contacting the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination or the federal Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

这是一个复杂的法律领域，同时也极具挑战性。请填写以下电子邮件表格联系 GLAD Answers： GLADAnswers.org or by phone at 800-455-GLAD (4523) to discuss options.