Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

About the Program | Bullying Reporting Form | Committees

About the Program

Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.

Dan Olweus, Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP)

This research-based program is preventive and responsive, with a focus on changing norms and restructuring the school setting. OBPP is a universal, school-wide effort involving all adults and students in a school community-not only teachers but administrators, counselors, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, bus drivers, librarians, parents, and community members who interact with the school.

• Focuses on the school as a system (and aspects of the system that support or discourage bullying) and also on individual behavior – serving K-12.
• Focuses on preventing bullying and also how to intervene effectively in  bullying problems that may arise.
• Focuses on changing climate and social norms so that bullying isn’t “cool” and no children are marginalized or excluded.
• Has a strong and growing research base;
• Has no end-date – it should be woven into the fabric of the school.

Research shows bullying prevention needs to happen on multiple levels to be effective.

The four Olweus Program components are based on this and consist of:

1. School-level components
   1. Establish a Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee
   2. Conduct committee and staff trainings
   3. Administer the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire
   4. Hold staff discussion groups
   5. Introduce the school rules against bullying
   6. Review and refine the school’s supervisory
   7. Hold a school kick-off event to launch the program
   8. Involve parents
2. Classroom-level components
   1. Post and enforce school wide rules against bullying
   2. Hold regular class meetings
   3. Hold meetings with students’ parents
3. Individual-level components (working with individual  students and their parents)
   1. Supervise students’ activities
   2. Ensure that all staff intervene on-the-spot when bullying occurs
   3. Hold meetings with students involved in bullying
   4. Hold meetings with parents of involved students
   5. Develop individual intervention plans for involved students
4. Community-level components
   1. Involve community members on the BPCC
   2. Develop partnerships with community members to support your program
   3. Help spread anti-bullying messages and principles of best practice throughout the community

Parents are very important for success of the Olweus program & are involved at all 4 levels.

Bullying Reporting Forms

Elementary Schools

Middle & High School