Governor Patrick signs landmark anti-bullying legislation Monday

Comprehensive bill strengthens efforts to keep Massachusetts students, schools safe

Governor Patrick signs the anti-bullying law on Monday afternoon at the Massachusetts Statehouse. Photo Credit: Sarah Gordon/Governor's Office.

Governor Deval Patrick Monday signed anti-bullying legislation he strongly advocated for to strengthen efforts in schools to keep Massachusetts students safe. Passed by the Legislature last week, the comprehensive measure employs new strategies for adults, new supports for students and better communications among state agencies to prevent, report and effectively address issues related to bullying.

"As Governor and as a parent, I feel very strongly that no child should feel threatened or unsafe in our schools," said Governor Patrick. "Today, with this new law, we are giving our teachers, parents and kids the tools and protections they need so that every student has a chance to reach their full potential. I am proud to sign this bill and thank the Legislature for delivering on this critical priority."

The Governor signed the bill at a State House ceremony attended by members of the Governor's Youth Council, legislative and education leaders and advocates from the fields of education, public safety, health and human services and law enforcement. Specifically, the new law increases efforts to educate students about bullying including regulations on student handbooks and classroom instruction; institutes new rules and expectations for reporting incidents of bullying; provides new opportunities for training for all adults in schools on how to identify, prevent and manage incidents of bullying; and enhances efforts across state and local education, health and law enforcement agencies to build more collaboration to ensure the new efforts are effective.

The law includes new reporting requirements for all school staff to fully and swiftly detail any instance of bullying or retaliation to the appropriate school official. Additionally, the measure directs the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) to establish statewide academic standards that include instruction in bullying prevention and requires schools statewide to provide age-appropriate instruction on bullying prevention.

Both public and private schools are now required to develop detailed bullying prevention, intervention and notification plans and to publish those plans in student handbooks. There is also a requirement that each school district will begin to provide targeted professional development to build the skills of all staff members in schools (including teachers, administrators, custodians, athletic coaches, bus drivers and others) to prevent, identify and respond appropriately to bullying incidents. ESE must provide school districts with a no-cost method for fulfilling this requirement.

Finally, the law extends beyond the classroom to include incidents that occur in the community and online bringing a new focus on so-called cyber-bullying and extending rules and penalties to apply to electronic and other communications.

In addition to the new rules, supports, opportunities and expectations established by the law, there is also a provision designating the fourth Wednesday in January as "No Name Calling Day" to increase public awareness of the devastating effects of verbal bullying, to encourage students to use positive dialogue and pledge not to use hurtful names on this designated day, and to promote tolerance and respect for differences across the Commonwealth.

“Now that the comprehensive anti-bullying legislation is law, it is imperative that we work together to bring all the stakeholders – parents, teachers, administration, legislators and especially students – to the table so that we will eliminate bullying from every corner of the Commonwealth,”  said Jose Rodrigues, Treasurer of the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council.

Courtesy of the Governor's Office.