Bias Incident Reporting

Please use this form to report any incidents of racism or bias which you have experienced or witnessed which involves a member of the Belmont Public Schools, including staff, volunteers, or students:

SUBMIT BIAS INCIDENT
REPORT FORM

This form may be completed anonymously. Please note that providing your contact information will enable the district to conduct a more thorough investigation and resolution.

For more information, including definitions around “what is bias”, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Bias Incident Reporting FAQs

All Important Definitions Investigation Information

What is a bias-motivated incident?

A bias-motivated incident happens when there is a violation of the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act. A bias-motivated incident includes three elements:

non-criminal threats, intimidation, or coercion
interference or attempted interference with a target/complainants civil rights; and
motivated by bias against a target/complainant’s membership in a protected group or activity

What is a Hate Crime?

A “hate crime” is a violation of the Massachusetts hate crime statute and includes the following three elements:

an assault or a battery upon a person, or damage inflicted on the real or personal property of a person;
intent by the offender to intimidate the victim;
bias motivation in whole or in part by the victim’s race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other protected characteristic.

What are bias-motivated behaviors?

Bias-motivated behavior occurs when a student or other member of the school community is treated differently/discriminated or is the target of an offensive comment because of their membership in a protected group, including their race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Bias-motivated behaviors include, but are not limited to, acts based on actual or perceived characteristics of individuals or groups of persons in a protected group such as slurs, epithets, hate speech or symbols.

What is a protected group, or “protected class”?

“Massachusetts Law outlaws treating people unfairly based on the persons membership in a ‘protected class,’ such as your race, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

The Massachusetts Student Anti-Discrimination Act (G.L. c. 76, 5) states “No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.”

Who is a Bystander or witness?

A WITNESS is a person who observes (sees, hears) a bias incident.

BYSTANDERS are persons who observe, but do not respond to a bias incident.

How do I report a bias incident?

For students - Tell an adult you feel comfortable talking to, in school or outside of school. Your parents, teacher, guidance counselor, principal, assistant principal, and coach are all examples of adults who can listen to what you’re experiencing and help you respond to the situation. Any school administrators will also be able to assist you in completing the BPS Bias Incident Reporting Form.

For BPS staff- Any employee who witnesses, overhears, or receives information concerning an incident of harassment of or discrimination against students at school or during school-sponsored activities shall report it to the principal. If the incident involves the principal, the employee shall make the report directly to the Superintendent at 644 Pleasant Street, Belmont, (617) 993-5401 (Source: Belmont Public Schools Policy and Procedures Manual).

For Non-student or staff- if you are a parent or caregiver share your concerns with your child’s guidance counselor, assistant principal, or principal. If you are a member of the Belmont community and you witness an incident involving a BPS student(s) or staff member(s) being targeted, actual or perceived, because of their identity you may contact the building Principal (if known), Office of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and or submit incident online using the BPS Bias Incident Reporting Form .

If you wish to report bias incidents that occur in town but do not involve the school district you may contact the Belmont Human Rights Commission or complete their online complaint form.

Once you submit a form, and have provided contact information, a designated school official will contact you within 24 to 48 hours to discuss the report, ask questions or gather additional information.

What is the investigation process?

All reports should go through a formal process for documentation, even if it was reported in-person. The person receiving the report does not need to try and discern if an incident is in fact a bias incident or not. School administrators will investigate any conduct that may be a policy violation and whether or not the alleged incident is a crime. If the alleged incident is substantiated as bias-motivated, school administrators will implement the appropriate course of action, such as restorative practices, and traditional retributive consequences; the district encourages reporting any incident that could potentially involve bias.

Pre-investigation
Investigation
Determination
Corrective Action
Closing communication loop

What happens after the report is submitted?

After a bias incident report is received the principal or designee will.

Take steps to restore a sense of safety to the alleged target and school community.
Conduct an investigation in which he/she considers all relevant information and interviews students, staff, witnesses, parents or guardians, and others as necessary.
Make a determination based upon all of the facts and circumstances. If bia-motivated behavior is substantiated, the school official will take steps to prevent recurrence.
Determine what remedial action is required, if any, and determine what responsive actions and/or disciplinary action is necessary.
Collaborate with school staff to ensure that the appropriate supports are put in place for the target and the aggressor.
Notify parents and guardians of the target and the aggressor if a bias-motivated incident is substantiated to share results of the investigation and what action is being taken to prevent further acts of bias.
- Please note:because of the legal requirements regarding the confidentiality of student records, the building principal or designee cannot report specific information to the target’s parent or guardian about the disciplinary action taken unless it involves a “stay away” order or other directive that the target must be aware of in order to report violations.
Notify the local law enforcement agency if the building principal has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor.
Contact the target after a reasonable period of time to determine whether there has been a recurrence of the prohibited conduct and whether additional supportive measures are needed and determine measures to address the school community if necessary.

Who will receive the report?

The building principal, designated school officials, and the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will receive reports.

Will I know what consequences are assigned for a specific incident?

Consequences will be age appropriate and consistent with Massachusetts state laws on discipline, school handbooks, and BPS policy. These procedures will be updated accordingly as the district continues to advance equity and anti-racism work.