Aggressor is a student who engages in bullying, cyber bullying, or retaliation.

Bullying is the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that: (i) causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target’s property; (ii) places the target in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property; (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the target; (iv) infringes on the rights of the target at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Bullying includes cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying is bullying through the use of technology or any electronic devices such as telephones, cell phones, computers, and the Internet. It includes, but is not limited to, email, instant messages, text messages, and Internet postings.

Hostile environment is a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the student’s education.

Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment directed against a student who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying.

Target is a student against whom bullying, cyber bullying, or retaliation has been perpetrated.

Bullying is prohibited: (i) on school grounds, property immediately adjacent to school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function, or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased, or used by a school district or school, or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is owed, leased, or used by a school district or school and (ii) at a location, activity, function, or program that is not school-related, or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by a school district or school, if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the target, infringes on the rights of the target at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Nothing contained herein shall require schools to staff any non-school related activities, functions, or programs.

Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying is prohibited.

A member of a school staff is required to report immediately any instance of bullying or retaliation the staff member has witnessed or become aware of to the Education Director or to the school official identified in the Plan as responsible for receiving such reports or both.

Staff includes, but is not limited to, an educator, administrator, counselor, school nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian, bus driver, athletic coach, advisor to an extracurricular activity or paraprofessional.

Upon receipt of such a report, the Education Director or designee shall promptly conduct an investigation. If the Education Director or designee determines that bullying or retaliation has occurred, the Education Director or designee shall (i) notify the parents or guardians of the target, and to the extent consistent with state and federal law, notify them of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation; (ii) notify the parents or guardians of a aggressor; (iii) take appropriate disciplinary action; and (iv) notify the local law enforcement agency if the Education Director or designee believes that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor.

Schools must provide ongoing professional development to increase the skills of all staff members to prevent, identify, and respond to bullying.

The content of such professional development is to include, but not be limited to: (i) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying incidents; (ii) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate, effective interventions to stop bullying incidents; (iii) information regarding the complex interaction and power differential that can take place between and among an aggressor, target, and witnesses to the bullying; (iv) research findings on bullying, including information about specific categories of students who have been shown to be particularly at risk for bullying in the school environment; (v) information on the incidence and nature of cyber bullying; and (vi) Internet safety issues as they relate to cyber bullying.

We are neuroscientists in the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive
Sciences. We are interested in how early experiences affect how the
brain develops. Sighted children use some parts of their brain to see;
do these brain regions learn new functions in children who are blind?

We are looking for children aged 4-14 years, who are totally blind, who
would like to participate in our studies of brain development.

During the study the child will play fun games with researchers that
involve listening to stories and sounds. Some of the games will be
played while we take pictures of the child’s brain with MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging), which uses a large magnet to record brain activity.
MRI is safe for children. By imaging the brain while children listen to
stories or sounds, we hope to relate this information to brain structure
and activity.

Children who participate receive gift certificates, books, and other
small prizes. They will also get a chance to talk to scientists and
learn about their brain. We will reimburse travel expenses for the
children and their family.

To be eligible, children must be totally blind, speak English fluently,
and have no neurological or psychiatric conditions.

Visits can be scheduled at your convenience on weekends or weekdays at
our facilities on the MIT campus.

For more information please contact:

Marina Bedny
mbedny@bidmc.harvard.edu
(617) 286 2341