Today's Date: March 28, 2024
YMCA of the USA Partners With Old Spice To Increase High School Graduation Among Boys And Young Men Of Color Through Mentorship   •   Re:wild and Colossal Biosciences team up to leverage revolutionary technology to save critically endangered species on the brink   •   Fosun Management on 2023 Annual Results: Focusing on Core Industries with Established Advantages   •   John Legend to Perform at City Year Los Angeles’ 13th Annual Spring Break Event   •   Equalpride Partners with TransLash Media for Trans Day of Visibility, Amplifying Voices of Black Trans Femmes in the Arts   •   Coachella Concerned That People Have Sex, Says AHF   •   Suffolk Kicks off 2024 “Build With Us @ Suffolk” Program in Boston for Trade Partners, Opening Doors for Minority-,   •   Jamieson Wellness Publishes Inaugural Sustainability Impact Report   •   National University Receives 2024 Military Friendly® Gold Designation   •   Parkland Corporation Announces the Results of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders   •   Amerex Group Unveils Red Carter Swimwear's Revitalized Collection   •   Make-A-Wish and celebrity wish granters announce goal to recruit 1 million people to become "WishMakers"   •   VIRGIN HOTELS CHAMPIONS INCLUSIVE TRAVEL FOR NEURODIVERSE TRAVELERS   •   Empire State Realty Trust Receives WELL Health-Safety Leadership Award; Becomes Among the First Commercial Office and Multifamil   •   Carnegie Learning Named 2024 SIIA CODiE Award Finalist for Best Educational Game and Best AI Implementation in Ed Tech   •   Visit Visalia Recognizes Autism Awareness Month in April   •   Midea Group releases its first-ever ESG brand story with an unexpected VIP visit highlighting its commitment to sustainability.   •   Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Expands OTC Portfolio for Children with the Introduction of bébé Bottoms™   •   Sypher Secures Strategic Partnership with FAIA to Fuel Growth   •   Torrid Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2023 Results and Initiates Fiscal 2024 Guidance
Bookmark and Share

Re-Intro Of "Safe Schools" Act Lauded

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign and the National Education Association applauds the reintroduction of the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Robert Casey and Sen. Mark Kirk. SSIA would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require schools and districts receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  The SSIA would also require that states report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.  Additionally, the SSIA would require the Department of Education to provide Congress with a report on the state reported data, along with other specified data, every two years.

“The mental and emotional well-being of too many young people has been put at risk because they were bullied or harassed at school,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We place our children in grave danger when we fail to adequately help school administrators and teachers create safe learning environments for all students, including those who are actually or perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

“Every child has a right to a safe place to learn,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “NEA strongly supports the Safe Schools Improvement Act and ridding schools of bullying and harassment. Our children are America’s greatest resource. And as educators, we want nothing more than to create a climate of civility and respect for all students, including LGBT students, in every public school.”

“I am pleased to introduce the Safe Schools Improvement Act to help ensure that every child receives a quality education that builds self-confidence,” said Sen. Casey.  “This bill is a crucial step towards ensuring that no child is so afraid to go to school that he or she stays home for fear of bullying.”

Bullying and harassment of students who are actually or perceived to be LGBT is widespread. While current federal law provides important support to promote school safety, it does not comprehensively and expressly focus on issues of bullying or harassment, and in no way addresses the challenges faced by LGBT youth in our nation’s schools.

According to a 2009 School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 8 out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school because of their sexual orientation; more than 60 percent of LGBT students said they felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and more than a third of LGBT students felt unsafe because of their gender expression; 40 percent of LGBT students reported being physically harassed in school because of their sexual orientation; and nearly one-third of LGBT students nationwide said they had missed a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.  Numerous education, health, law enforcement and youth development organizations support federal legislation to combat bullying and harassment, including the American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, National Association of School Psychologists, National Education Association and National Parent Teacher Association.

The SSIA was first introduced in the Senate during the 111th Congress by Sen. Casey.  The House version of the bill was previously introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA).  Additional cosponsors of the current Senate Safe Schools Improvement Act include Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ),  Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).



STORY TAGS: Safe Schools Improvement Act , Anti-bullying legislation , HRC , Human Rights Campaign , National Education Association , General, Black News, African American News, Latino News, Hispanic News, Minority News, Civil Rights, Discrimination, Racism, Diversity, Racial Equality, Bias, Equality



Back to top
| Back to home page
Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News