However, the bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a model bullying and anti-harassment policy to share with school districts. 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 . 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. Rep. Ballasiotes said the legislation will empower school districts to protect children and stop violence before it occurs. 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.