Bullying Prevention Survey

Bozeman Public School District has been implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) for the past 8 years. OBPP is a school-wide program aimed at preventing or reducing bullying throughout a school setting by uniting the staff and students on the issue. OBPP is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop. Because BSD is invested in the health and wellbeing of our students, we embrace this as an opportunity to continue to be proactive in supporting student growth and understanding.

In order to get a better understanding of the perception of bullying as our students see it, we would like your permission to administer the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program electronic questionnaire. This questionnaire is a standardized, validated tool for assessing bullying problems at schools. The questions provide information about how frequently students bully or are bullied, what types of bullying are most common, where bullying occurs, how often students report bullying and how students feel about bullying. Results from the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire will provide our district with building-specific information critical to planning our bullying prevention efforts. We want to ensure that all parents are notified about the questionnaire and to provide as much information about the questionnaire as possible. As a parent, you have the right to prohibit your child’s participation. However, I hope that you will allow your child to participate. The following are facts about the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire to help you make an informed decision about your child’s participation:

1. It is voluntary. Your child does not have to participate. Neither you nor your child is required to give a reason for not participating. Students who do participate will not be required to answer all of the questions—only those that they choose to answer.

2. It is anonymous and confidential. The survey is designed to protect your child’s and the school’s privacy. No names or other identifying information will be recorded.

3. It is well tested. The questionnaire we are using was developed by Dan Olweus, the creator of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. This questionnaire has been used across the United States and several other countries around the world.

A copy of the survey is available for you to review (instructions on how to do so below). You may also contact your child's school for more information. The results obtained from the questionnaire are more likely to be accurate and precise if more students participate. Therefore, we urge you to allow your child to participate in this important questionnaire. You do not need to notify the school or sign anything to allow your child to participate. If you do not want your child to participate, contact their school. If you decide not to allow your child to participate, they will be given an alternative activity for the survey period.

Click here to access more on bullying prevention and safe, supportive schools.