Giving Compass' Take:

• ESchool News reports on the fundamental legal responsibilities of school districts when protecting students against bullying. 

• How can social-emotional learning improve school climate and potentially reduce bullying? 

• Read the report on school bullying directly after the 2016 election. 

In an interview with Tina Hegner, manager of research and development at PublicSchoolWORKS, eSchool News explores the basic legal responsibilities of school districts regarding bullying and cyberbullying.

Though state laws, which vary, are responsible for determining the specifics of how school districts should address incidents of bullying and cyberbullying, school districts are required by federal law to submit bullying data to the U.S. Department of Education to include in Civil Rights Data Collection surveys; furthermore, federally funded districts are required to address incidents related to a student’s race, color, national origin, sex, disability or religion which may qualify as harassment under federal civil rights laws.

The month of October has been designated as National Bullying Prevention Month. During a recent survey, roughly one-third of students reported that they had experienced bullying during the 2017-18 school year.

In the past, some teachers and administrators might have considered it a normal part of childhood or even a rite of passage. However, state laws now require that schools address these issues. Though the laws vary from state to state, certain key components remain constant, including the fact that these incidents must be investigated and properly reported. They also must be reported to the federal government for Civil Rights Data Collection School Climate and Safety reports.

Aside from the legal obligations, schools have a vested interest in decreasing bullying because it interferes with the educational process. Bullying affects school attendance and school performance. Schools can work to address bullying through efforts to improve school climate and through social-emotional learning.

Read the full article about school bullying by Amelia Harper at Education Dive