New Bullying Notification Law – Effective July 1, 2023 (PEATC E-News, July 2023)

Description:

Bullying is a widespread epidemic that negatively impacts many students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2019-20, student bullying and cyberbullying were among the most common discipline problems reported by public schools. Fifteen percent of public schools reported that bullying occurred at least once a week.

The Virginia General Assembly passed two bills (SB 1072 and HB 1592) that became law on July 1 that address when parents need to be notified about alleged bullying incidents.

It states that each local school board is to “require the principal of each public school or his designee to notify the parent of any student who is involved in an alleged bullying incident of the alleged incident within 24 hours of learning of such allegation.” The previous law only required the principal to notify the parent(s) of the status of any investigation into an alleged bullying incident within five school days of an allegation.  

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior, they send the message that it is unacceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time. The passage of this law is a step in the right direction of ending bullying in our schools.