Parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that New York City's Department of Education is planning to further assess the issue of bullying in schools.
A class action lawsuit two years ago suggested that schools were not properly handling bullying situations, which ultimately lead to violence and a lack of safety in the halls. Now, a more vigorous plan is set to take effect thanks to the settlement's provisions, according to Patch.
So what can parents expect to see change in their children's school? DOE members will have to report an incident they hear or read about within one school day. From there, an investigation must be conducted within 10 days. The DOE is also required to assemble a team that trains school staff to prevent, report and investigate bullying cases that arise.
Moms and dads will have a more active role in protecting their children as well, thanks to the electronic reporting system debuting in 2019 that allows them to submit reports virtually.
Though the age-old dilemma is something that will never entirely disappear, it seems that there are more efforts in place to ease the tension and keep students' experiences in the classroom positive.
"The DOE has initiated numerous reforms to strengthen its anti-bullying programs to ensure safe and inclusive learning environments in every school building," a spokesman for the city Law Department said in a statement, according to Patch. "This settlement reflects and expands on these initiatives in the best interest of the City and its students."
*This is a developing story and Time Out New York Kids editors have reached out to NYC DOE for further information.
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