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Safe Schools Improvement Act
3/31/2025, 3:48 PM
Summary of Bill S 986
The key provisions of the bill include:
1. Mandating that all schools develop and implement policies to prevent and address bullying and harassment. These policies must include procedures for reporting incidents, investigating complaints, and providing support to victims. 2. Requiring schools to provide training to staff on how to recognize and respond to bullying and harassment. This training will help educators create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. 3. Establishing a national database to track incidents of bullying and harassment in schools. This data will help policymakers and educators better understand the scope of the problem and develop effective strategies to address it. 4. Providing resources and support to schools to implement evidence-based prevention programs and interventions. These programs may include social-emotional learning curriculum, peer mediation programs, and mental health services for students affected by bullying. Overall, Bill 119 s 986 seeks to create a safer and more supportive school environment for all students by addressing the issue of bullying and harassment. By implementing comprehensive policies, training, and support services, the bill aims to prevent incidents of bullying and promote positive social interactions among students.
Congressional Summary of S 986
Safe Schools Improvement Act
This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits).
Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level.
The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.
