News of bias-motivated assaults, clashes, walk-outs by students or other high-profile disruptions travels like lightning through school halls and classrooms, creating excitement, confusion and fear. Often accompanied by inaccurate details and rumors, the news can quickly polarize an entire community.

When a hate crime or other serious bias incident occurs, refer to this section and the model response statements in the Appendices to guide your school through the important steps of denouncing the act, providing accurate information and creating opportunities to discuss and propose solutions.