Impact of Anti-Bullying Legislation Becoming Evident in NJ Schools

What it is

The Anti-bullying Bill of Rights Act was enacted in 2010 and signed into law in 2011 with bipartisan support. It puts in place new requirements for schools to both pursue and prevent harassment, bullying and intimidation involving both students and adults. The law sets strict procedures for how to investigate reported incidents. It also provides new guidance on providing programs to raise awareness of the problem.

What it means

The law hasn’t just changed the rules. Some say it is helping to change the culture of how students and staff deal with incidents of bullying. And it doesn’t just apply to incidents in schools; it also sets the first parameters for dealing with such acts outside of school – and online – that also can disrupt a child’s education.

The law as sequel

The 2011 law actually is an amendment to 2002 legislation that was among the nation’s first laws requiring schools to have anti-bullying policies and procedures. A series of court cases – with the help of political advocacy – pushed state legislators to further amend the law to set strict requirements for enforcing those policies.

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