Bullying reports up 24% since last school year

Summary

New data from Indiana schools reveals a 24% increase in reported bullying incidents during the 2017-2018 academic year. Child advocates view this as a positive development, indicating greater honesty in reporting. The previous year, 60% of schools reported zero bullying, dropping to 47% in the latest figures. Notably, there's been a significant rise in electronic and written bullying. This has led to a new state law mandating yearly reminders for schools to report bullying and allowing audits for compliance. Davi Combs, a student, supports further legislation to include private schools in the reporting requirement.

Takeaways

• 📊 New numbers reveal a 24% increase in reported bullying incidents in Indiana schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
• 📉 A decrease from 60% to 47% in the number of Indiana schools reporting zero bullying incidents, indicating improved transparency.
• 🌟 Child advocates view the increase in reported incidents as positive, as it suggests schools are being more honest about bullying occurrences.
• 👦 Davi Combs, a student about to enter seventh grade, shares his experience as a victim of bullying, highlighting its emotional impact.
• 📈 The data shows a significant rise in electronic and written forms of bullying, reflecting the growing concern of cyberbullying.
• 🏫 The investigation by 'Call Six' led to a new state law, enhancing the reporting requirements and accountability of schools regarding bullying.
• 📝 The state law mandates the State Department of Education to send yearly reminders to schools about their duty to report bullying.
• 🔍 The law also enables the state to conduct audits to ensure schools are accurately reporting bullying incidents.
• 📋 Davi Combs advocates for a new law that would require private schools to report bullying incidents, aligning them with public and charter schools' obligations.
• 🔗 A method is provided for parents to check the number of bullying incidents at their child's school by visiting a specific link on the news channel's website or app.
• 📚 The script emphasizes the importance of tracking bullying incidents to allocate resources effectively and create a healthier educational environment.

Q & A

What was the increase in reported bullying incidents in Indiana schools from the 2016-2017 to the 2017-2018 school year?

There was a 24% increase in reported bullying incidents in Indiana schools from the 2016-2017 to the 2017-2018 school year.

What was the percentage of Indiana schools that reported zero bullying incidents in the 2016-2017 school year?

In the 2016-2017 school year, 60% of Indiana schools reported zero bullying incidents.

How many schools reported zero bullying incidents in the 2017-2018 school year compared to the previous year?

In the 2017-2018 school year, 47% of schools reported zero bullying incidents, which is an improvement from the 60% reported in the previous year.

Why do child advocates consider the increase in reported bullying incidents a positive sign?

Child advocates see the increase as a positive sign because it indicates that more schools are accurately reporting bullying incidents, which is crucial for allocating resources and addressing the issue effectively.

What types of bullying have seen a significant increase in reports according to the new numbers?

There has been a significant increase in reports of electronic and written forms of bullying.

What is Davi Combs' opinion on the bullying situation in schools?

Davi Combs, who identifies as a victim of bullying, believes that bullying is harmful as it hurts people's feelings and is not conducive to a healthy educational environment.

What prompted the new state law regarding bullying in Indiana schools?

The new state law was prompted by an investigation conducted by Call 6 Investigates, which exposed the issue of underreported bullying incidents in Indiana schools.

What does the new state law require the State Department of Education to do?

The new state law requires the State Department of Education to send out yearly reminders to schools about their duty to report bullying and allows the state to conduct audits to ensure compliance.

What is Davi Combs' suggestion for further improvement in bullying reporting?

Davi Combs suggests a new law that would require private schools to report bullying incidents, similar to the requirements for public and charter schools.

How can parents find out about bullying incidents at their child's school?

Parents can find out about bullying incidents at their child's school by visiting the provided link on the RTV6 website or the RTV6 app, which will bring up a spreadsheet where they can look up any school.

What was the original percentage of schools reporting zero bullying incidents, and how does it compare to the new numbers?

Originally, 60% of schools reported zero bullying incidents. The new numbers show a decrease to 47%, indicating an improvement in reporting accuracy.