Res. No. 3
title
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.
Body
By Council Members Barron and Brannan
Whereas, Bullying is a serious and widespread problem in schools throughout the United States (U.S.); and
Whereas, A survey by the U.S. Department of Education found that about 21% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school in 2015; 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 indicates that 9% of students ages 12-18 experienced cyberbullying in school year 2010-11; and
Whereas, By 2015, 15.5% 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 s...
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