Spotlight on New Bullying Law

According to the New York Times, the aftermath of bullying incidents nationally and the public outcry from the death of Rutgers University Freshman, Tyler Clementi, pushed the state of New Jersey to pass the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. The bill, which went into effect September 1, 2011, is being noted as the toughest bullying legislation in the country. Many teachers and administrators expressed concerns about the law because it demands that all public schools increase staff training, adhere to tight deadlines for reporting episodes and adopt comprehensive antibullying policies. A failure to comply with the implemented policies can result in educators losing their licenses. The executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, Richard G. Bozza, commented on the policy stating that schools do not have the resources or the staff to monitor the community in the manner the bill requires.

With legislation like the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and the number of budget and staff cuts facing districts, it is important for administrators and teachers to have the resources necessary to easily and quickly report and track all bullying incidents. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Student Bullying Reporting System, part of the award-winning StudentWatch suite, parents and students are provided with 24/7 online and telephone systems to report bullying incidents. These include built-in communication tools that immediately notify school administrators when an incident is reported. This system helps districts meet state mandates and provides tools for initiating, documenting and recording district and school responses to each reported concern. It also features live attendants who are able to receive information and initiate contact with various national crisis hotlines that may help a student deal with a personal emergency. Have you had a need for a bullying management system? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: The New York Times