School Safety and Discipline

Bullying, defined by statute IC 20-33-8-.2, is overt, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner (including digitally or electronically), physical acts committed, aggression, or any other behaviors, that are committed by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other targeted student and create for the targeted student an objectively hostile school environment that:

1. places the targeted student in reasonable fear of harm to the targeted student’s person or property;

2. has a substantially detrimental effect on the targeted student’s physical or mental health;

3. has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student’s academic performance; or

4. has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, and privileges provided by the school.

In order to reduce bullying events and mitigate its impacts, school corporations are also required to provide training concerning the school’s bullying prevention and reporting polices, to employees and volunteers who have direct, ongoing contact with students. This requirement is outlined in IC 20-26-5-34.2.

Years included: 2023

Source: Indiana Department of Education

School discipline is any incident classified as a suspension, expulsion, or bullying incident as reported by schools on their discipline report. Every school has a unique handbook and disciplinary conduct policy, but disciplinary incidents often include alcohol, drugs, weapons on campus, vandalism, attendance, fighting, bullying, and destruction of property.

Years included: 2023

Source: Indiana Department of Education

Student arrests occur when a student42 (any child enrolled in a public or nonpublic school at any grade between kindergarten and grade 12) is taken into police custody, on or off campus, after allegedly committing an act that would be classified as a crime.

Years included: 2023

Source: Indiana Department of Education