Duval Schools reminds families of bullying reporting tools, prevention resources

Duval County Public Schools is reminding families of the tools available to report and prevent bullying as districts nationwide observe October as National Bullying Prevention Month. The district maintains a dedicated anti-bullying hotline staffed by district employees and formal investigation procedures for all reports.

The initiative comes as part of the district's ongoing effort to maintain safe learning environments across its more than 160 schools serving Jacksonville and Duval County. Resources range from a dedicated reporting hotline to external educational materials for recognizing warning signs.

How the district defines and investigates bullying

Under School Board Policy 10. 2, the district's Anti-Bullying Policy, bullying is defined as "systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students. " The definition encompasses unwanted teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, cyberbullying, and spreading rumors or falsehoods.

"Duval County Public Schools takes all reported acts of bullying seriously," said Heather Watson, a School Psychologist who works in District Bully Prevention. "Part of ensuring our schools are safe, harmonious, and positive learning environments for children is to have strong bullying reporting and preventative measures in place. "

Students and families who experience or witness bullying should report it directly to a school administrator or dean of discipline, who will conduct the investigation. The district recommends submitting reports of bullying or harassment in writing whenever possible.

The district also operates an anti-bullying hotline managed by district employees. Reports can be made by calling 904-390-2255 or by emailing or texting 390Call@duvalschools. org. Once a report is submitted through the hotline, the student's parents or guardians receive written notification that an investigation is underway.

What families need to know about reporting

For parents navigating the reporting process, understanding the district's investigation protocol can reduce confusion and ensure timely action. When a bullying report is filed—whether through the hotline, directly to a school administrator, or in writing—the district initiates a formal investigation led by school-level administrators.

The district's bullying prevention page provides detailed information about the process, outlining the steps from initial report through resolution. Written notification to families is a key component, ensuring parents are informed when an investigation involving their child begins.

This transparency is particularly important in a district the size of Duval, where enrollment tops 120,000 students across elementary, middle, and high schools. The formal structure aims to ensure consistency in how reports are handled regardless of which school a student attends.

The district encourages families to document incidents and submit written reports alongside verbal complaints. This documentation can help investigators piece together patterns of behavior, which is central to the district's definition of bullying as systematic and chronic behavior rather than isolated conflicts.

Resources for recognizing signs and prevention strategies

Beyond the reporting mechanisms, the district is pointing families to a range of educational resources designed to help adults and students recognize the warning signs of bullying and learn prevention strategies.

Three external resources are highlighted on the district's communications. StopBullying. gov offers materials for parents, educators, and community members. The National Bullying Prevention Center provides resources tailored to K-12 students, youth, families, and educators. The Florida Department of Education maintains bullying prevention resources specific to educators, parents, and youth in Florida schools.

These resources address not only physical and verbal bullying but also cyberbullying, an increasingly prevalent concern as students spend more time on digital platforms and social media. Cyberbullying can include harassment through text messages, social media posts, sharing of private information, or impersonation online.

For families, these resources can serve as a starting point for conversations with children about what constitutes bullying, how to respond if they witness it, and when to seek help from adults. The materials also guide parents on what to watch for—changes in behavior, reluctance to attend school, unexplained injuries, or declining academic performance—that may signal a child is experiencing bullying.

Middle school students invited to anti-bullying contest

As part of this month's awareness efforts, the Len Mattiace Foundation is hosting its annual Stop the Bullying Competition in partnership with Duval County Public Schools. The contest is open to all middle school students in the district and invites them to submit projects focused on compassion, inclusion, and kindness.

Fifteen prizes will be awarded, with the top two Grand Prize winners each receiving $1,000. The deadline to enter is November 5, 2026. Students can learn more about the contest and submission requirements by visiting the foundation's Stop the Bullying Campaign page.

The competition gives middle school students—typically sixth through eighth graders—an opportunity to engage creatively with bullying prevention. Projects can take various forms and encourage students to think critically about how they can contribute to a more inclusive school culture.

How bullying prevention fits into broader school safety efforts

Bullying prevention is one component of the district's larger school safety and student-support framework. Duval County Public Schools employs school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and resource officers across its campuses, and bullying investigations often intersect with these broader support systems.

For students who are targets of bullying, the district's intervention may include not only addressing the behavior of the student or students responsible but also providing counseling and support services to the affected student. Similarly, students who engage in bullying behavior may be referred to behavioral interventions or counseling aimed at addressing underlying issues.

In a county where neighborhoods range from densely populated urban cores to suburban subdivisions and more rural areas, the consistency of the anti-bullying policy across all schools provides a baseline expectation for families regardless of where they live. Whether a student attends a school in Riverside, Mandarin, Arlington, the Westside, or the Beaches, the same policy and reporting channels apply.

The emphasis on written documentation and formal investigations also provides a level of accountability that families can reference if they feel a concern is not being adequately addressed. The hotline offers an alternative channel when families may be uncertain how to approach a school administrator or if previous reports have not resulted in action.

What happens next

National Bullying Prevention Month activities will continue throughout October. Families are encouraged to review the district's bullying prevention page and discuss the reporting process with their children. The Stop the Bullying Competition entry deadline is November 5, 2026.

For families new to the district or those unfamiliar with the reporting process, now is an opportune time to save the anti-bullying hotline number—904-390-2255—and email address—390Call@duvalschools. org—in a readily accessible location.

As Jacksonville continues to grow and the school district absorbs new students from in-migration and new residential development, clear communication about policies like bullying prevention becomes increasingly important. Ensuring that every family knows how to report a concern and what to expect when they do is a foundational piece of maintaining safe schools across the region's largest district.