The Department of Education recently announced an $8 million plan to help schools, kids, and families prevent bullying in schools. The money will be put toward workshops on bullying prevention and expansion of mental health resources, as well as funding student clubs.
A complaint portal will also be created so that families can report instances of bullying, harassment, or discrimination. While trainings and workshops will roll out as early as January 2018, the portal is projected to be launched in 2019. The DOE will also require that schools create “individual student action plans” to combat bullying if there are substantiated allegations. For example, students who have several documented instances of bullying will be able to transfer schools and work with the DOE to find suitable alternatives. Additionally, 300 New York City schools with high bullying rates will receive targeted support.
The DOE has come under fire recently after a fatal school stabbing in which a student at Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx attacked two students, and one passed away. It is reported that the student assailant was the victim of bullying, and critics say much could’ve been done to prevent this.
“We must work together to ensure that all school communities, particularly parents, are engaged as partners in this ongoing work,” said the New York City schools chancellor, Carmen Fariña, in a statement.
Critics of Fariña say that in spite of this initiative, more needs to be done. “I appreciate Chancellor Carmen Fariña’s testimony today, however there seems to be a lack of clarity about how school safety requests are made and who approves those requests, and that’s a huge problem,” said Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. in a statement. “It’s my belief that the resources are available, but that DOE needs to do better in facilitating.”
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