News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 25, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Dave Horn, Attorney General's Office, 360-586-4562

Top state officials announce bill to stop bullying in schools

OLYMPIA - Freeing children from the threat of harassment, intimidation and bullying-behavior that can lead to school violence-is the goal of a bill filed Wednesday in the Legislature, top state officials said today.

The bill requires school districts to adopt policies that prohibit bullying behavior and establish procedures for reporting and investigating such behavior. To the extent funds are appropriated, the bill also requires districts to provide training on bullying policies for school staff and volunteers.

At a press conference today, Gov. Gary Locke said he believes the bill is an important first step toward ending the threat of youth violence in our schools.

"If children are afraid to go to school, or their parents are afraid to send them there because they fear violence or harassment, kids just won't be able to learn as well as they might," said Locke. "Making our schools as safe as possible is critical."

Attorney General Christine Gregoire said the violence that occurs in schools today is potentially more dangerous and deadly than the schoolyard fights of yesteryear.

"This is not the bullying we remember from our childhood," said Gregoire. "With today's access to guns, an exchange of insults or a fistfight can easily escalate into a violent situation with tragic consequences. Our legislation establishes clear, common sense guidelines for schools to establish anti-bullying policies that will make them a safe environment for students and teachers."

Under the bill, school districts statewide would have flexibility to develop their own anti-bullying policies containing minimum provisions required by the law. However, the bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a model bullying and anti-harassment policy to share with school districts.

"A safe and civil learning environment is absolutely critical to every student's academic success," said Terry Bergeson, state Superintendent of Public Instruction. "Many school districts around the state are doing an excellent job of addressing the problem of bullying. This legislation will allow us to collaborate with districts in developing policies that will support all schools and protect students."

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe and Representatives Ed Murray and Ida Ballasiotes.

"This bill is important because children face harassment in schools every day," said McAuliffe, (D-Bothell), chair of the Senate Education Committee. "Schools need to protect children and provide a supportive learning environment. Every child has the right to feel safe."

The bill will go a long ways toward helping those kids who deal with bullies everyday at school according to Rep. Murray. "This legislation is a huge step toward helping victims of bullying and preventing future victims," he said.

Rep. Ballasiotes said the legislation will empower school districts to protect children and stop violence before it occurs.

"For too long, bullies have gotten away with intimidation while schools have been afraid to take action," she said. "These days, however, there's a more serious level of bullying which threatens the safety, and in some cases, the lives of our children. Our public schools have a responsibility to provide a safe learning environment and this legislation will help."

After visiting schools across the state to discuss the problem of youth violence, Gregoire formed a task force last year to look into the specific role that bullying and harassment plays in such violence. The task force, chaired by the president of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Danette S. Glassy, includes a cross-section of experts and concerned community members. The task force recommended the legislation as the first of several efforts to combat youth violence.
Related Links:
- Safe and Civil Schools
- Protecting Students from Harassment and Hate Crime: A Guide for Schools


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