Res. No. 149

Resolution calling on the New York City Department of Education to require that all public school students receive age-differentiated anti-bullying instruction and complete an anti-bullying course focused especially on cyberbullying.

By Council Members Barron, Chin, Gibson, Levine, Mendez, Richards and Vallone

Whereas, Bullying is a serious and widespread problem in schools throughout the United States (U.S.); and

Whereas, A survey by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice found that about 28% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school in 2011; and

Whereas, Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology such as cell phone texting, email and social media internet sites and is a growing problem in U.S. schools; and

Whereas, Data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that 6% of students in grades 6-12 experienced cyberbullying in 2008-2009; and

Whereas, By 2011, 16% of high school students (grades 9-12) were electronically bullied according to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

Whereas, Bullying has a negative impact on student attendance, academic outcomes and psychological well-being; and

Whereas, Students who are bullied or cyberbullied are more likely to skip a class or miss days of school, receive poor grades, experience depression, have lower self-esteem, use alcohol and drugs, and have more health problems; and

Whereas, Bullying prevention has received increasing focus from educators and policymakers in recent years, as evidenced by annual bullying prevention summits hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and similar events held in individual states; and

Whereas, New York State enacted its own anti-bullying law, the “Dignity for All Students Act” (DASA), in September 2010, which took effect on July 1, 2012; and

Whereas, The goal of DASA is to provide the State’s public school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying; and

Whereas, DASA also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law which requires that the course of instruction in grades kindergarten through twelve include a component on civility, citizenship and character education; and

Whereas, Such component shall instruct students on the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect for others, with an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying and discrimination; and

Whereas, Further, such component must include instruction in the safe and responsible use of the internet and electronic communications; and

Whereas, The New York City Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the City Council and advocates, launched the citywide Respect For All initiative in 2007 to combat bias-based bullying and harassment in schools; and

Whereas, The Respect For All initiative includes staff training and curriculum for students in secondary schools; and

Whereas, In addition, DOE’s Chancellor’s Regulation A-832 establishes a procedure for the filing, investigation, and resolution of complaints of student-to-student bias-based harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying; and

Whereas, Chancellor’s Regulation A-832 requires principals to ensure that students have been provided with information and training on the policy and procedures in this Regulation by October 31st of each year; and

Whereas, However, Chancellor’s Regulation A-832 does not mandate comprehensive anti-bullying and cyberbullying instruction for all students; and

Whereas, Such instruction would assist in the prevention of bullying, harassment and violence, enabling schools to better maintain supportive learning environments; and

Whereas, Students deserve to learn in a safe space that encourages positive learning conditions and increases academic achievement for all students; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to require that all public school students receive age-differentiated anti-bullying instruction and complete an anti-bullying course focused especially on cyberbullying.

LS# 5204

JA

3/6/14