NRS388.132. Legislative declaration concerning safe and respectful learning environment.

  The Legislature declares that:

      1.  A learning environment that is safe and respectful is essential for the pupils enrolled in the public schools in this State to achieve academic success and meet this State’s high academic standards;

      2.  Any form of bullying or cyber-bullying seriously interferes with the ability of teachers to teach in the classroom and the ability of pupils to learn;

      3.  The use of the Internet by pupils in a manner that is ethical, safe and secure is essential to a safe and respectful learning environment and is essential for the successful use of technology;

      4.  The intended goal of the Legislature is to ensure that:

      (a) The public schools in this State provide a safe and respectful learning environment in which persons of differing beliefs, characteristics and backgrounds can realize their full academic and personal potential;

      (b) All administrators, principals, teachers and other personnel of the school districts and public schools in this State demonstrate appropriate behavior on the premises of any public school by treating other persons, including, without limitation, pupils, with civility and respect and by refusing to tolerate bullying and cyber-bullying; and

      (c) All persons in public schools are entitled to maintain their own beliefs and to respectfully disagree without resorting to bullying, cyber-bullying or violence; and

      5.  By declaring its goal that the public schools in this State provide a safe and respectful learning environment, the Legislature is not advocating or requiring the acceptance of differing beliefs in a manner that would inhibit the freedom of expression, but is requiring that pupils with differing beliefs be free from abuse.

      (Added to NRS by 2001, 1929; A 2005, 705; 2009, 687; 2013, 1655)