U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance to Combat Bullying; CEC Addresses Positive School Climate in Policy Statement

Today, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance to education stakeholders – including schools, higher education institutions, and states – to clarify when student bullying may violate federal anti-discrimination laws.  This guidance comes on the heels of many recent media accounts of bullying that has led to numerous student deaths. 

Specifically, the guidance – which comes in the form of a “Dear Colleague” letter from U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan – seeks to provide more information on the relationship between bullying and discriminatory harassment.  The letter provides examples of harassment and illustrates how a school should respond in each case, including responding to bullying against students with disabilities. 

CEC has long been involved in efforts to prevent bullying for students with disabilities and raising awareness among key stakeholders, including policymakers.  In 2008, CEC issued a policy on supporting a safe and positive school climate which calls for schools to have clear policies prohibiting harassment and discriminatory behaviors, professional development for educators and administrators, and resources which create a safe learning environment for all students. Additionally, CEC provides resources for teachers and administrators to stop and prevent bullying.  Click here for more info.

The White House and Department also announced next steps to address bullying and harassment in schools, including a White House conference to raise awareness and provide tools to prevent bullying and harassment; national technical assistance workshops for educators; enhancing the Stop Bullying Now Campaign and www.bullyinginfo.org, a national database of effective anti-bullying programs.

For more information about the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the anti-discrimination statutes that it enforces, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/aboutocr.html. To review the "Dear Colleague" letter, please visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201010.html.