Bullying

Some of the many students who turned out for the November 2010 anti-bullying forum organized by the Commission, the Governor's Prevention Partnership, and the Connecticut Department of Education. There's more on the event here.

Regarding specfic cases of bullying...

Unfortunately, as a small policy and research agency, the Commission on Children does not have the staff or resources to investigate individual bullying complaints. We suggest you first bring incidents to the attention of your local school or local board of education. You may also contact the state Department of Education. You'll find contact information, along with additional information and resources, here.

Roadmap to a Positive School Climate

This PowerPoint presentation-prepared by Steven Hernández, director of public policy and research for the Commission on Children-explains what schools can do to create the sort of climate that will help them comply with Connecticut's 2011 anti-bullying legislation, An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying Laws (Public Act 11-232). View the presentation

VIDEO: Stereotyping and Bullying, 21st-Century Style

Commission on Children Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman and True Colors Inc. Executive Director Robin McHaelen recently led a discussion on bullying at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford. They focused on the programs, tools, and interventions available, including Connecticut's new anti-bullying law. Watch the video

Learn about Connecticut's new anti-bullying law

On July 13, 2011, Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law Public Act 11-232, An Act Concerning the Strengthening of School Bullying laws. This legislation takes comprehensive steps to ensure every child's right to learn in Connecticut public schools without fear of teasing, humiliation, or assault.

Two-page, plain-English explanation of the law prepared by the Commission (PDF)
Full text and legislative history of the law
Hear the law explained by Commission Director of Policy and Research Analysis Thomas Brooks on the WTIC-AM pubic affairs program "Face Connecticut." (First aired on August 14, 2011)
A Connecticut Mirror op-ed article in support of the legislation by Commission Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman and Director of Policy Thomas Brooks. It appeared just before the bill's passage.

Stopbullying.gov

The federal government's anti-bullying site, with resources kids and adults. Go to the site

Elaine Zimmerman discusses bullying on the Stan Simpson Show

The suicide of a Massachusetts teenager who'd been the target of severe bullying at school led to a discussion of what Connecticut is doing about the problem on the May 2, 2010 edition of The Stan Simpson Show, a public affairs show on Fox 61, WTIC-TV in Hartford. Stan interviewed Commission Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman. Watch the segments

Bullying in the Classroom…and the Chat Room: Ensuring that Every Student is Safe to Learn

Kevin Jennings, assistant deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, was the keynote speaker at a forum that drew more than 500 students, parents, educators, and government officials to the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Monday, Nov. 22. Watch video, download event documents, and join our mailing list on this issue

20 Questions for Your School: A Policy Checklist for Educators, Parents and Students

This is a tool developed by the Commission and the Governor's Prevention Partnership for determining whether your school meets the broad requirements of the state law on bullying. It shows what the law expects and what it encourages schools to do about improving school climate. PDF, 8 pages

The Key to Bullying Prevention: Creating a Safe Learning Environment

The students and parents of Connecticut want safe, caring communities and schools. This primer contains the Commission's recommendations for reaching that goal and outlines some proven anti-bullying programs. PDF, 2 pages

The 2008 School Bullying Law, Explained

The Commission offers a three-page primer on the far-reaching school bullying law adopted this spring by the General Assembly and signed into law on June 12 by Governor M. Jodi Rell. Download the primer (PDF)

The text of Connecticut's bullying laws

Want to get into the nitty-gritty? Here are the relevant statutes as of November 2010.
PDF, 6 pages

Bullying & Harassment in Connecticut: A Guide for Parents & Guardians

This 2010 publication from the state Department of Education uses a Q-and-A format to answer parents' most common questions about putting a stop to bullying. PDF, 16 pages

State Department of Education report on bullying

In this February 2010 report, SDE summarizes efforts to combat bullying on the state and local levels. PDF, 62 pages

Stand Up to Bullying! Strategies to Make Connecticut Safe for Learning

On October 22, 2007, the Commission on Children, the Office of the Child Advocate, and other partners held a public forum on bullying, with experts exploring the causes, effects, and possible solutions to the problem and a panel of students giving moving accounts of how bullying affected them. Read more

McGruff SafeGuard service

Concerned about cyberbullying? This free software, offered by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and ParentsOnPatrol, help parents manage their children's online activity. Go to the McGruff SafeGuard website.

The Safe Learning Grant Program: A Resource for School Safety

Connecticut legislators led an unsuccessful effort in 2007 to re-fund a valuable state program that helps schools prevent bullying and develop safe learning environments. The Select Committee on Children voted unanimously to appropriate $1 million for the Safe Learning Grant Program, but the funding did not make it into the final version of the state budget.

The program, established in 2001, provides competitive grants to help school districts adopt best practices for fostering safe learning environments and preventing student bullying, aggression, and violence. Every local and regional board of education is eligible to apply for a grant. Read the text of the Safe Learning Grant law (CGS § 10-263e)

Brave Enough to Be Kind

Recommendations on ways to curb bullying. Authored by the Commission, the Connecticut State Board of Education, and the Governor's Prevention Partnership. Updated through November 2002. Download the PDF

Office of the Child Advocate

The mission of the Child Advocate is to oversee the protection and care of children and to advocate for their well-being. Visit this site

Connecticut Clearinghouse Resources on Bullies and Bullying

The Clearinghouse, operated by the Wheeler Clinic and funded by the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, offers a variety of books and videos about bullies and bullying. Download a list of resources (PDF) | Visit the Bullying section of the Clearinghouse website

Bullying Prevention Is Crime Prevention

A report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a nonprofit organization of more than 3,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, other law enforcement leaders, and violence survivors. PDF downloads: Full 24-page report

This page was last updated: October 3, 2012