FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Victoria Martin
vmartin@payouthcongress.org
Phone: 717-743-1035
PENNSYLVANIA STATE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS SCHOOL VIOLENCE;
THE PENNSYLVANIA SAFE SCHOOLS ACT
RE-INTRODUCED INTO THE STATE HOUSE
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition (PSEC) is proud to announce that Representative Dan Truitt (R-156) has reintroduced the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act (PASS Act) in the State House with widespread bipartisan support. Now with 62 cosponsors, House Bill 156 has the endorsement of several influential organizations, including key education stakeholders.
The PASS Act was drafted by Pennsylvania students and Rep. Truitt with the aim of improving the state’s currently weak anti-bullying law. The PASS Act creates a system to report and subsequently mediate incidents of bullying by educators and staff, as well as providing clear definitions of bullying and cyberbullying activity. It would also require teachers to complete an anti-bullying training program once every five years. Over a dozen states have similar laws in place.
The PASS Act has made a strong entrance into the 2013 legislative session. At a press conference regarding the re-introduction of the PASS Act today, January 23, 2013, in the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Rep. Truitt emphasized the importance of safe schools for all of Pennsylvania’s children. The bill was first introduced to the Pennsylvania legislature in the 2012 session by Rep. Truitt with 32 co-sponsors.
During the press conference, the Democratic Chairman of the House Education Committee Rep. James Roebuck (D-188), anti-bullying expert Dr. Claudio Cerullo, and safe schools advocate Tammy Simpson, spoke in support of the PASS Act, and emphasized the importance of protection for Pennsylvania students.
“Pennsylvania does not have a clear reporting mechanism to report incidents of bullying or cyberbullying. This is exacerbated by the lack of trust felt by many students, believing that nothing would be done even if they tell a teacher. The truth is, our administrators and teachers want to help. They just need the policy in place to do so.” said Jason Landau Goodman the Executive Director of PSEC.
A report issued by the Center for Disease Control in 2009 indicates that 19 percent of Pennsylvania students were bullied on school property in the preceding year, with 10 percent of Pennsylvania students stating they had been involved in a physical altercation on school property. However, the Annual Safe Schools Report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education found in the 2011-2012 academic year that 200 school districts reported zero incidents of bullying on school grounds. The law in place requires only that schools have an anti-bullying policy in place, without clear definitions as to what constitutes bullying, or what that policy should contain to address bullying incidents as they arise.
The PASS Act will provide the strongest protection for students in Pennsylvania against incidents of bullying. Without proper intervention, the targets of bullying and harassment can experience lowered self-esteem, truancy, and poor academic performance. The aggressors of bullying may develop into adults with behavioral issues leading to domestic and sexual violence, criminal behavior, and discrimination.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act, visit www.pasafeschoolsact.com
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