The apparent under-reporting of bullying incidents across Indiana has prompted a legislator to propose a bill to strengthen already-required school reporting.
A separate bill calls for a district’s disciplinary rules to address cyberbullying not only through use of computers, but also through use of cellular phones or other wireless devices.
Under Indiana law, schools are required to report bullying incidents by various categories [physical, verbal, social and written/electronic] to the Indiana Department of Education.
Incidents must be included in the school district’s annual performance report, which is published in newspapers and online.
But last fall, an Indianapolis news outlet reported that many schools across the state are reporting no incidences of bullying.
Its analysis of 2016-2017 data showed nearly 60 percent of Indiana schools reported zero bullying incidents.
That prompted state Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, to author House Bill 1356, which would give the state Department of Education the authority to audit the accuracy of bullying data submitted by schools. It provides the state department must report discrepancies of an audit on its website.
“We realized schools were not reporting it,” Porter said. One high school in northern Indiana with about 3,500 students reported no bullying incidents in 2016-17.
“We want to continue the conversation and put forth something that will help schools to remind them it is a law and they should be doing it,” he said. Districts also may need to be reminded there are no penalties associated with “honestly reporting that such things are taking place,” according to a House Democrats news release.
Porter believes that accurate reporting, and a better understanding of the extent of bullying, could help reduce it and improve dropout rates; he believes it could help address disciplinary issues and prevent suicide. “As a state, this is something we need to continue to address,” Porter said. “We have to take care of our children.”
On Wednesday, the bill had a hearing before the Senate Education Committee, where Porter explained it and told those attending, “I was bullied.” The committee is expected to vote on the bill next week.
The bill passed out of the House by a vote of 87-3 on Feb. 5.
Porter also authored 2013 bullying legislation, which dealt with reporting and training of educators as well as prevention education for students.
HB 1356 requires the state DOE to conduct a statewide survey of districts this year to assess how to improve the accuracy of reporting bullying, and DOE would report its findings to the General Assembly by Nov. 1, 2018.
Also, by June 1 each year, the DOE must annually send notification via email or a letter to each district explaining the district’s obligation to submit a report related to student bullying incidents.
HB 1356 also would eliminate the requirement that the bullying reports must appear on the annual performance report, which is published in newspapers and online.
Adam Baker, spokesman with the Indiana Department of Education, said, “I believe the thought is to incentivize the reporting of bullying and not be punitive by requiring schools to place this in their annual performance report.”
In Vigo County
According to 2016-17 DOE data, the Vigo County School Corp. reported 52 incidents of bullying in 2016-17, including 10 at Otter Creek Middle School; nine at Woodrow Wilson Middle School; seven at Terre Haute North Vigo; six at West Vigo Elementary; five at Sarah Scott Middle School; and five at Fuqua Elementary.
Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Booker T. Washington High School and McLean Education Center reported no bullying incidents. West Vigo High School reported one incident.
The VCSC website includes a link where bullying incidents can be reported. The parent/student guide states that violating the district policy or state law related to bullying is grounds for possible suspension or expulsion; that includes bullying via electronic, physical, psychological and social means.
“The bullying behavior is prohibited regardless of the physical location that the behavior is committed when the student committing the bullying attends a school with the targeted student. This rule applies when such behavior is likely to interfere with the rights of other students to a safe and secure learning environment,” the student-parent guide reads.
The parent/student guide also has a provision related to bullying reporting, which states: “Parents, visitors and others should report bullying to the school principal the same day that the incident takes place. An investigation will take place and consequences will be assessed accordingly. Not all reported incidents fit the legal definition of bullying. For more information and a copy of the policy, visit www.vigoschools.org.”
Bullying is defined as chronic, on-going behavior and not a single incident. The VCSC anti-bullying policy does address use of cell phones, computers or social media where such behavior connects the act to the school and has the potential to disrupt a safe learning environment.
School safety
State Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, has authored a school safety bill that deals with both bullying and human trafficking. It adds cellphones to the definition of cyberbullying and requires the Department of Education, state Board of Education and school corporations to clearly identify resources for prevention and reporting of bullying or cyberbullying.
The DOE would have to maintain a link on its website, and local districts would have to maintain a link to the DOE site. Making this information available online will ensure it is easily accessible for parents and students, said McNamara, who is a high school administrator.
In an interview, she pointed out that existing bullying legislation “did not cover cell phones,” so the bill updates existing statute.
“There really are no resources for parents for guidance on what to do when bullying occurs outside the school day,” she said. During the school day, districts can respond and have the ability to discipline those who bully.
Bullying primarily occurs after school, she said. By having online resources available on district, DOE and state board of education web sites, “That gives resources to parents on how to deal with bullying and where to go for help.”
DOE “has a very robust section on bullying,” but she found it difficult to locate. “We need to make it easier to find, and have those links when we go to a school district website,” she said.
Her goal is to empower parents so they have information to “help themselves” when school is not in session and “to help themselves find the resources to deal with situations,” she said.
The other component of her bill deals with human trafficking. DOE would have to maintain a link on its website regarding identification and reporting of human trafficking. Also, district employees who have direct, ongoing contact with children would receive at least one hour of inservice training every two years on identification and reporting of human trafficking.
The goal in training would be for educators to recognize some of the signs and common issues associated with trafficking. McNamara has been an educator for 24 years, and “it wasn’t until I got elected in 2010 and started working on human trafficking legislation that I was even aware of what it was and the circumstances surrounding it,” she said.
“I think it’s important for educators to be aware of a lot of the warning signs,” she said. Hopefully, that training can minimize the effects of human trafficking in Indiana, she said. “It’s a very hidden crime; people don’t talk about it.”
While some might have concerns about yet more mandated training for teachers, “If you are an educator, and if an hour out of your life every two years helps prevent a student from becoming a victim, it’s worth it,” she said. She noted that so far this year, she’s had CPR training; QPR training on suicide prevention; blood-borne pathogens training; tourniquet training; just to name a few.
All of the training educators do is for a reason — “to protect our kids,” she said.
House Bill 1230 passed unanimously out of the House. On Wednesday, it passed out of the Senate Education Committee 11-0.