How States are Addressing School Bullying › documents › health › bullyslides.pdf · Federal...
Transcript of How States are Addressing School Bullying › documents › health › bullyslides.pdf · Federal...
How States are AddressingSchool Bullying:
From the Schoolyard to Cyberspace
Moderator: Miriam Fordham, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky;
Member, Legislative Health Staff Network Steering Committee
Kevin Jennings, Assistant Deputy Secretary,
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools,
U.S. Department of Education
Jennifer Dounay Zinth, Senior Policy Analyst,
Education Commission of the States
Cheryl Reinhart, Legislative Attorney,
Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas;
Co-Chair, Legislative Education Staff Network
This webinar is sponsored by NCSL’s Legislative Education Staff Network (LESN) and Legislative Health Staff
Network (LHSN) through a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Legislative Education Staff Network
The Legislative Education Staff Network (LESN) is a coordinated network of professional and knowledgeable legislative staff from across the country who, as a major part of their responsibilities, work on education policy, including finance and budget policy.
Want to be involved?
• Join our Listserv (legislative staff only) by contacting Sara Shelton at [email protected].
• Participate in professional development opportunities at ECS and NCSL meetings
– http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabID=788&tabs=857,36,367#857
Legislative Health Staff Network
The Legislative Health Staff Network (LHSN) is a coordinated network of professional and knowledgeable legislative staff from across the country who work on health policy, including finance and budget policy.
Want to be involved?
• Join our Listserv (legislative staff only) by contacting Tara Lubin at [email protected]
• Participate in upcoming professional development opportunities. Visit our website: http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabID=160&tabs=831,134,1070#1070
U.S. Department of EducationUnderstanding Bullying
Kevin JenningsAssistant Deputy Secretary Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools
Department of Education
National Conference of State Legislatures WebinarDecember 14, 2010
Many Students Experience BullyingPercentage of students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school and being
cyber-bullied anywhere during the school year, by sex: 2007
Source: Indicators of Crime and School Safety, 2008
Rivers, I., Poteat, V.P., Noret, N., Ashurt, N. (2009). Observing Bullying at School: The Mental Health Implication of Witness
Status. School Psychology Quarterly. 24:4, 211-223.
Prevalence of Bullying Behaviors and
the Roles of Gender
Source: Wang, 2009
Victimization Perpetration
Source: Cyberbullying Research Center
Some Groups are Singled Out for HarassmentQuestion: “At your school, how often are students bullied, called names or harassed for the
following reasons?”
Source: From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America 2005
Petrosino, A., Guckenburg, S., DeVoe, J. and Hanson, T. (2010). What characteristics of bullying, bullying victims, and schools are associated
with increased reporting of bullying to school officials? (Issues & Answers Report, REL 2010- No.092). Washington, DC: US Department of
Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Education Laboratory
Northeast and Islands. Retrieved from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs.
Petrosino, A., Guckenburg, S., DeVoe, J. and Hanson, T. (2010). What characteristics of bullying, bullying victims, and schools are associated
with increased reporting of bullying to school officials? (Issues & Answers Report, REL 2010- No.092). Washington, DC: US Department of
Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Education Laboratory
Northeast and Islands. Retrieved from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs.
Teachers and Students Make a Difference
In classrooms where both students and teachers had
strong attitudes and actions against bullying and
aggression, rates of aggression were 1/3 to ½ of
classes where peers alone (and not teachers) had
strong attitudes against aggression
Henry, D., Guerra, N., Huessmann, R., Tolan, P., VanAcker, R., & Eron, L. (2000). Normative influences
on aggression in urban elementary school classrooms. Amerian Journal of Community Psychology,
28(1), 59-81.
Peer Intervention Works, but Isn’t Common
Of bullying episodes in which peers intervened,
57% of the interventions were effective (i.e., the
bullying stopped within 10 seconds).
Peers intervene in only 11-19% of all bullying
incidents.
Source: Hawkins, Pepler and Craig 2001
Every School Should…
Help to educate faculty, staff & parents about bullying
Have a clear policy against bullying behaviors, and communicate this policy early and often to students, staff, and parents
Train all staff who interact with students (including bus drivers, school resource officers, school nurses, and cafeteria workers) on how to recognize bullying behaviors and intervene effectively to stop them
Ensure that all staff members take immediate action when bullying is observed.
Gather data to assess bullying, the level of staff commitment to address bullying, and parent interest and concerns.
What’s the Washington Agenda?
In a Truly Safe School
Every Student Feels Like…
They Belong.
They are Valued.
They Feel Physically and Emotionally Safe.
What Gets Measured is What Gets Done
Safe and Supportive Schools (s3) Model:
A New Approach to K-12 School Safety
Draft s3 Model. Please do not circulate without consent from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free
Schools. Please contact Kristen Harper ([email protected]) with questions or concerns.
s3 model
Engagement
Relationships
Respect for Diversity
School Participation
Safety
Emotional Safety
Physical Safety
Substance Use
Environment
Physical Environment
Academic Environment
Wellness
Disciplinary Environment
Winners of Safe and Supportive Schools Grants
ArizonaCaliforniaIowaLouisianaKansasMarylandMichiganSouth CarolinaTennesseeWest VirginiaWisconsin
Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention
Working Group
1. Organized National Bullying Summit Aug. 2010
2. Centralized all resources on www.bullyinginfo.org
3. Creating action plan on four areas:
– Research
– Practice/Strategies
– Policy
– Communications
Upcoming work:
Guidance by Department of Education’s Office of
Civil Rights on intersection of bullying and
harassment (Fall 2010)
Best practices in bullying policies memo (Dec. 15,
2010)
Best practices on anti-bullying policies and
implementation (Summer 2011)
Study on “bullycides” and what can be done to
prevent them (2011-12)
Elements of a Model Policy
Purpose Statement
Statement of Scope
Specification of Prohibited Conduct
Specific definition of bullying that:
Includes a non-exclusive list of behaviors that constitute the behavior
Indicates that bullying can be direct or indirect
Is not limited to behaviors that cause physical harm
Is easily understood
Includes retaliation for reporting bullying and perpetuation of bullying
through spreading of hurtful material
Enumeration of Specific Characteristics
Development and Implementation of Local Educational Agency
(LEA) Policies
Elements of a Model Policy
Components of LEA Policies
Consistent definition with State Law
Procedures for reporting and requirements for teachers to report known
or suspected incidents.
Procedures for investigation
Procedures for maintaining written records
Range of sanctions and consequences
Referral to counseling and mental and health services
Review of Local Policies
Communication Plan
Training and Preventive Education
Transparency and Monitoring
Statement of Rights to Other Legal Resources
Pheobe Prince
10th Grade
South Hadley, MA
1994 – January 2010
Death by hanging
Carl Joseph Walker
Hoover
6th Grade
Springfield, MA
1998 – April 2009
Death by hanging
Christian Taylor
9th Grade
Yorktown, VA
1994 – May 2010
Death by hanging
Tyler Clementi
College Freshman
Ridgewood, NJ
1992 – September
2010
Jumped off the George
Washington Bridge
Asher Brown
8th Grade
Harris, TX
1997 – September
2010
Shot himselfSeth Walsh
8th Grade
Tehachapi, CA
1997 – September
2010
Died after eight days
on life support after
attempting to hang
himself
Justin Aaberg
10th Grade
Anoka, MN
1995 – July 2010
Death by hanging
Hope Witsell
8th Grade
Ruskin, FL
1996 – September
2009
Death by hanging
Anti-Bullying Legislation:
Trends and Issues
Jennifer Dounay ZinthEducation Commission of the States
For LESN/LHSN Webinar
December 14, 2010
Education Commission of the States
Overview
• How many states?
• Areas being addressed in legislation
• Model components of legislation
• Of note in state policies
• Stay tuned and contact info
Education Commission of the States
States With Anti-Bullying Policies
Policy components across the
states: same or different?
• Lots of variation from one state to next
• More uniformity seen as time goes on
• Most common areas include…
Education Commission of the States
• Definition of bullying
– CYBERBULLYING included in definition
• State-level support
• Local board requirements
• Student services
• Intervention strategy for staff to deal with bullying
• Incorporating anti-bullying into the curriculum
• Students and/or staff must report bullying
• Informing students of their rights and sanctions
• Parental rights
• Administrators req’d to investigate reported incidents
• Staff PD (help adults prevent and address incidents)
• Public reporting on bullying incidents
Education Commission of the States
Model legislative components
• Defines bullying (statewide or locally).
INCLUDES CYBERBULLYING in definition
• Prohibits bullying, including cyberbullying
• Informs students, staff & parents of anti-bullying
policy
• Enables parents and REQUIRES staff to report
incidents
• Provides immunity to whistleblowers
• Requires admins. to investigate reports
• Encourages or requires anti-bullying education
Education Commission of the States
How many states address
model components?
• In 2005, it was just 5 (CT, NJ, OR, VT, WV)
• Stay tuned—updated info in Jan. 2011!
Education Commission of the States
Cyberbullying
Education Commission of the States
Cyberbullying
• Included in many recent enactments
– Included in statutory definition of ―bullying‖
• NH also specifies types of electronic devices
• MA cyberbullying definition very specific
– MA and OK (may be others): Specify that
device used may or may not be school
equipment
Education Commission of the States
Are policies changing once
enacted?
• Absolutely!
• 8 states in 2010 alone updated provisions
• States adding ―cyberbullying‖ provisions
• Task forces recommending improvements
to state policies
• Next speaker will talk more about this
Education Commission of the States
Of note
• AL 2009 H.B. 216: Looks at student
harassment and suicide prevention
– Other AL bill: Anti-bullying as dropout prevention
• UT rule: Also covers staff, invitees
• Policies specific to sexual orientation
• Policies generally only for K-12
– Will this change in 2011 sessions?
Education Commission of the States
To help in your 2011 session
• Update to ECS’ 2005 report!
• Feel free to contact me:
– 303.299.3689
Education Commission of the States
DEVELOPMENT OF ARKANSAS
CYBER BULLYING POLICY
Cheryl L. Reinhart, Legislative Attorney
Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research
Arkansas Cyberbullying Law
Antibullying Policies, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-514
2003 – original enactment (cyberbullying not included)
2005 –
Expanded the bullying venue
Gave immunity for reporting
2007 -- cyber bullying added; greatly expanded definitions
2007 Amendment --
Added cyber bullying:
[Bullying prohibited …]
(B)(i) By an electronic act that results in the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment.
(ii) This section shall apply to an electronic act whether or not the electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic act is directed specifically at students or school personnel and maliciously intended for the purpose of disrupting school, and has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose …
A.C.A. § 6-18-514(b)(2)(B)
Weaknesses --
No outright prohibition on bullying – just the mandate for school district policy
Strong dependence on school districts to develop policies
Permissive provisions should be mandatory:
Training school personnel
Reporting, investigation and enforcement
Contact information --
Cheryl L. Reinhart
Bureau of Legislative Research
One Capitol Mall, Fifth Floor
Little Rock, AR 72201
501.537.9338
Any Questions?
• Use the Q and A panel on your screen.
• To find the archived webinar next week, go to http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=21807.
• Please fill out the survey at the end of this webinar.
Thank you!
Additional ResourcesFederal inter-agency effort that offers strategies and research on
anti-bullying policies
www.bullyinginfo.org
U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/
Education Commission of the States
http://www.ecs.org/
Arkansas General Assembly
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
assembly/2011/2011R/Pages/Home.aspx
Bills on bullying filed by Texas legislators – news article
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/06/
2684072/bills-on-bullying-filed-by-texas.html
NCSL Resources
Legislative Education Staff Network
http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?
TabID=788&tabs=857,36,367#857
Legislative Health Staff Network
http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?
TabID=160&tabs=831,134,1070#1070