State law requires DOE to track acts of bullying

The Legislature passed an anti-bullying law this year, but it wasn’t in time to keep Hawaii out of a federal report that names the state as one of four without such a statute.

The report, from the U.S. Department of Education, was released this month and identifies Hawaii, Michigan, Montana and South Dakota as the only states without anti-bullying legislation.

The report was written before Hawaii legislators passed a law that requires the state Department of Education to institute anti-bullying policies, monitor those efforts and track incidents of bullying on campuses.

The U.S. DOE’s study, "Analysis of State Bullying Laws and Policies," found that though most states are looking at the issue of bullying, many are not following up legislative or policy demands with monitoring or enforcement.

The report also said 36 states have prohibited cyberbullying or bullying using electronic media. Thirteen states specify that schools have jurisdiction over off-campus behavior "if it creates a hostile school environment."

National anti-bullying advocate Marie Newman said the report shows that though states have taken steps to address bullying, most must do more to ensure a safe learning environment for all.