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AGPCAB INC. Legislative Effort
AGPCAB INC. was instrumental in the passage of the Connecticut School Anti-Bullying law in 2002. Our group was responsible for the anonymous reporting component of the law which will allow fearful victims and bystanders a realistic mechanism for reporting abuse in an unsafe school environment. We are proud of the parents, child victims/ bystanders, as well as Representative Mary Mushinsky for making this law reality. We all worked hard and furiously to get this law passed before the legislative session ended...Passed in 3 months!!!! BRAVO!!!!
This is how AGPCAB INC helped get CT anti-bullying legislation passed...you can too!
CT Public Act No.02-119
An Act Concerning Bullying Behavior In Schools
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July1, 2002 )Each local and regional board of education shall develop a policy, (see CT Report)for use on and after February 1, 2003, to address the existence of bullying in its schools. Such policy shall: (1) Enable students to anonymously report acts of bullying to teachers and school administrators, (2) enable the parents or guardians of studentsto file written reports of suspected bullying,(3) require teachers and other school staff who witness acts of bullying or receive student reports of bullying to notify school administrators, (4) require school administrators to investigate any written reports filed pursuant to subdivision (2) of this section and to review any anonymous reports, (5) include an intervention strategy for school staff to deal with bullying, (6) provide for the inclusion of language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying, (7) require the parents or guardians of students who commit any verified acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed to be notified, and (8) require each school to maintain a list of the number of verified acts (see CT Report) of bullying in such school and make such list available for public inspection. The notification required pursuant to subdivision (7) of this section shall include a description of the response of school staff to such acts andany consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying. For purposes of this section, “bullying” means any overt acts by a student or a group of students directed against another student with the intent to ridicule, humiliate or intimidate the other student while on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity which acts are repeated against the same student over time.
It's up to parents to make sure schools are complying with the law!
As of February 1, 2003 every local and regional Board of Education must comply to the components of this law.
Parents must be aware that ambiguity lies in the interpretation of the individual perception of the adult in the school who is investigating bully/victim problems and ultimately responsible for deeming such problems as “verified” (to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality) or “not” verified.
The law states that bullying represents; Overt acts by a (one) student or group of students directed against another student with the intent to ridicule, humiliate or intimidate the other student while on school grounds or at a school sponsored activity which acts are repeated (done or recurring again and again) against the same student over time. (the law sets no time limit)
Because of the lack of state mandating to provide training to educators and other school staff concerning bully/victim problems, such personal interpretation may render inappropriate and allow for the perpetuation and escalation of harmful and possibly deadly bully/victim problems.
Therefore, it is critical that parents who file a written report of suspected bullying, be careful to give as much detailed information which will greatly reduce if not eliminate the ambiguity that may contribute to whether or not the school will deem your complaint as a “verified act of bullying” or not.
ie; types of overt actions, names of students directly involved, dates, places, witnesses, pictures of injuries, official medical reports (psychological/physical), police reports, etc
The law requires schools to:
*enable (to make able or feasible) students to anonymously (of unknown or undeclared origin or authorship) report acts of bullying to teachers or administrators which must be reviewed by administrators
*enable (to make able or feasible) parents or guardians of students to file a written complaint of suspected bullying which must be investigated by administraton
*require teachers and other school staff who witness acts of bullying or receive student reports of bullying to notify school administrators
*require the parents of guardians of students who commit verified acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed be notified, including a description of the response of school staff to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying
*provide a list of verified acts of bullying available for public inspection
*include an intervention strategy for school staff to deal with bullying
*provide for the inclusion of language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying
CT REPORT
"Unsafe School Option" in the No Child Left Behind Act
States receiving any funds under the Act must establish and implement a statewide policy requiring that a student be allowed to attend a safe public elementary/ secondary school within the local education agency, including a public charter school if he or she:
1. attends a persistently dangerous public elementry or secondary school as determined by the state in consultation with a representative sample of local educational agencies or
2. becomes a victim of a violent criminal offense, as determined by state law, while in or on the grounds of a public elementary or secondary school that the student attends
States must certify in writing to the Secretary of Education that they are in compliance as a condition of receiving funds under No Child Left Behind.
States determine their own definitions of what is considered "persistently dangerous". In Connecticut, schools had to meet two of the following criteria for three consecutive years to make the list:
*2 or more gun-free schools violations (possession of a firearm or explosive device that resulted in expulsion from school).
*1 "other weapon" incident resulting in expulsion for every 200 hundred students, with a minimum of 3 incidents.
*1 violent criminal offense resulting in expulsion for every 200 students, with a minimum of 3 incidents.
Schools would be put on "notice" if they met the criteria for only one year, and on a "warning" after the second year.
The state will compile a list of "persistently dangerous schools" each August.
No schools in the state of Connecticut meet the criteria of "persistently dangerous".
The state did not consider reports of bullying in schools to determine if schools were dangerous.
US School Safety Enactments/State Bullying Harassment Laws
Anti-Bullying Laws Don't Help Unless They Are Enforced...so if you would like to help make sure our CT Anti-Bullying law is being enforced please email to be a volunteer liaison for your school district.
Federal Anti-Bullying Bill
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