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Schools across the state are observing Kansas Anti-Bullying Awareness Week from Oct. 7-13. This year’s theme is “Choose Peace.”
The Kansas State Board of Education and the Kansas State Senate by joint resolution have designated the first full week in October as Anti-Bullying Awareness Week. This is a great opportunity to create awareness about the issue of bullying.
Twenty percent of students ages 12 to 18 have experienced bullying, according to stopbullying.gov, a United States government website. Thirty percent of young people admit to bullying others, and 70.6 percent of children have witnessed bullying in their schools.
In March 2019, Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson announced the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Bullying to research and identify current bullying trends, data and prevention measures occurring across the state in an effort to understand better how to combat this complex issue. The group also is reviewing work in the areas of social-emotional learning; reviewing current statutes, regulations and policies to determine need for change; and identifying possible avenues that could reduce and prevent incidents of bullying and cyber bullying.
The Task Force on Bullying is hosting listening tours across the state. Members of the public are welcome to attend and take part in a public comment session. Information gathered during the listening tours will be compiled and used to develop recommendations to present to the State Board of Education later this year.
Kansas teens are being asked to share their thoughts on bullying, too, by visiting https://mewe.com/join/kansasblueribbontaskforceonbullying. Students are encouraged to visit the site and answer this question: What can we do to prevent bullying in Kansas schools?
For more information about Kansas Anti-Bullying Week or for resources to help stop bullying, visit https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-M-Z/School-Counseling/School-Counseling-Resources/Anti-Bullying-Awareness
Questions about this page contact:
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.