The Olweus (pronounced ol-VAY-us) Bullying Prevention Program is a systems change framework focused on changing school norms around bullying. It is a preventative, responsive, and research-based framework designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and grow.

Goals of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program include:

• Reducing existing bullying problems among students
• Preventing the development of new bullying problems
• Achieving better peer relations at school

The program has been in place in SMMUSD elementary and secondary schools since 2016. School sites take a tiered approach with their anti bullying efforts.

• Tier I/Universal Level - All students, staff, and parents are made aware of the definition of bullying. The anti bullying rules are taught, and class meetings are held at least weekly. There is a strong focus on community building.
• Tier II/Selective Level - Expectations around anti bullying are retaught to small groups of students. There is active supervision in hotspots on school grounds where bullying is more likely to occur based on site survey data.
• Tier III/Intensive Level - On-the-spot interventions are utilized when bullying-like behavior occurs, individual meetings occur with students and parents of those involved in these situations, and individual support is put in place to assist students.