You probably know what bullying is. You may not know what a Gebser Letter is or what it does. Sit down, grab your cup of coffee and read on.
The Effects of Bullying
First things first. It is now widely accepted as fact that children with disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their neurotypical and able-bodied peers. About 20% more likely, to be precise. A study was performed by Chad Rose of the University of Missouri College of Education and Nicholas Gage of the University of Florida examining 6,500 students from K-12 during the years 2011-13. Although the study did not include online bullying (which has now become more pervasive through social media), it found that students with disabilities were bullied more than other kids particularly in grades 3 through high school graduation.
More about the study can be found in this excellent article “Disabled children more likely to be bullied during school years, study says” by HealthDay News. There is even more helpful information on the statistics on bullying and harassment of students with disabilities at the National Bullying Prevention Center’s website.
It is also now widely accepted that bullying negatively affects a student’s ability to learn. It directly impacts that student’s education. The U.S. Department of Education’s official blog published an article called “Keeping Students With Disabilities Safe from Bullying” that highlighted a 2013 Guidance Letter on bullying. A year later, the USDOE’s Office of Civil Rights issued an even stronger Guidance on how schools should handle bullying.
What is a Gebser Letter?
In 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in a case titled Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S. 274 (1998), in which Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote the opinion for a divided court. The Court decided that under Title IX, you cannot sue a school district for damages for bullying or harassment unless you have notified a school official who has the ability to take corrective measures on the district’s behalf of the misconduct and the school district is “deliberately indifferent” to the notice.
Out of that case came the very simple concept of preparing a letter – a so-called Gebser Letter – to provide the proper notice to the school. The only question was whether the school then acts with deliberate indifference to the conduct.
This case emphasizes our constant mantra in special education law – If it ain’t in writing, it never happened. Document everything!
We strongly urge you to consult with a lawyer on the proper format and language of a Gebser Letter and/or if your child has a disability and is the victim of bullying. We have provided a form Gebser Letter in our packet of special education legal forms, which are FREE to download, but remember that these forms do not constitute legal advice and are not a replacement for consultation with a lawyer in your state. But the letter could get the ball rolling for your child and you.
Free Special Ed Legal Forms on SchoolKidsLawyer.com.
You can also have a 30 minute consultation with us for $100 to discuss your child’s case.