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US S2548

US S2548
Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2019


summary

Introduced
09/25/2019
In Committee
09/25/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

Requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit conduct, including bullying (including cyberbullying through electronic communications) and harassment, that (1) limits students' ability to participate in, or benefit from, school programs; or (2) creates a hostile or abusive educational environment that adversely affects students' education. LEAs shall also 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 shall collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

AI Summary

This bill, the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2019, aims to address and prevent bullying and harassment in public elementary and secondary schools. The key provisions include: 1) Requiring states to direct local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prohibit conduct, including bullying (including cyberbullying) and harassment, that limits students' ability to participate in or benefit from school programs or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment. 2) Requiring LEAs to provide annual notice to students, parents, and educators about prohibited conduct, establish grievance procedures for reporting complaints, and collect and publicly report data on the incidence and frequency of such conduct. 3) Requiring the Department of Education to conduct a biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment, and the National Center for Education Statistics to collect state data on the prohibited conduct. The bill clarifies that its provisions are in addition to, and do not limit, existing federal and state non-discrimination laws, and it preserves protections for free speech and expression.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (44)

Bob Casey (D)* Tammy Baldwin (D),  Michael Bennet (D),  Richard Blumenthal (D),  Cory Booker (D),  Sherrod Brown (D),  Maria Cantwell (D),  Ben Cardin (D),  Tom Carper (D),  Chris Coons (D),  Catherine Cortez Masto (D),  Tammy Duckworth (D),  Dick Durbin (D),  Dianne Feinstein (D),  Kirsten Gillibrand (D),  Kamala Harris (D),  Maggie Hassan (D),  Martin Heinrich (D),  Mazie Hirono (D),  Doug Jones (D),  Tim Kaine (D),  Angus King (I),  Amy Klobuchar (D),  Patrick Leahy (D),  Ed Markey (D),  Bob Menendez (D),  Jeff Merkley (D),  Chris Murphy (D),  Patty Murray (D),  Gary Peters (D),  Jack Reed (D),  Jacky Rosen (D),  Bernie Sanders (I),  Chuck Schumer (D),  Jeanne Shaheen (D),  Kyrsten Sinema (I),  Tina Smith (D),  Debbie Stabenow (D),  Tom Udall (D),  Chris Van Hollen (D),  Mark Warner (D),  Elizabeth Warren (D),  Sheldon Whitehouse (D),  Ron Wyden (D), 

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (on 09/25/2019)

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