Family Life

07.02.12 | Sarah Harnisch

Anti-bullying laws approved nearly two years ago took effect at every public school in New York state on Sunday. The only people impacted by the law now are kids enrolled in summer school. But come fall, you'll feel the full brunt of the "Dignity For All Students Act." The measure expands the definition of bullying in schools' codes of conduct and requires them to report incidents of discriminiation and harassment to the state education department. Schools also have to hold training sessions for staff, and have brand new curriculum to discourage kids from bullying. Every school also has a Dignity Coordinator, a person overseeing the whole effort. Sixty-eight percent of New York kids say they have either witnessed bullying or have been bullied themselves.