4th grader Sammy Teusch was a 10-year-old boy from Indiana who ended his own life in May 2024 after being relentlessly bullied. His family contacted the school allegedly 20 different times to report the bullying, but school officials claimed no reports were ever filed. Sammy endured extensive physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from his peers up until the night of his death, while those in power allegedly chose not to step in.

Sammy’s family is working with community advocates and families who have similar experiences on getting comprehensive anti-bullying legislation introduced into Congress. There has been no extensive action on bullying from Congress and there isn’t even a federal definition of bullying in the U.S. law code.

The Sammy Teusch Bullying Intervention and Prevention Act would: 

1. Require school districts to establish a plan to handle bullying reports from school personnel, parents, students, and community members. 
2. Require school districts to establish a comprehensive anti-bullying policy policy that prohibits bullying, prohibits cyberbullying through the use of school devices or school internet systems, outlines ways for schools to identify and intervene in bullying incidents, and includes reporting systems and disciplinary guidelines. These policies must involve community input and be updated on a regular basis. 
3. Require school districts to create a uniform bullying reporting form that is publicized among the community. 
4. Require schools to investigate and act on any reports made. Parents must be informed after any incidents occur or after post-report investigations are completed and action is taken. 
5. Codify parents’ rights to any evidence and files related to these cases, in compliance with FOIA. 
6. Require districts to compile data on incidents and report them to the public and the US Department of Education. 
7. Establish a federal definition of bullying which includes cyberbullying. 
8. Requires school climate surveys focused on bullying and student education sessions on bullying, cyberbullying, school policies, and compassion. 
9. Establish a K-12 Anti-Bullying Task Force under the Department of Education composed of various stakeholders including students, parents, educators, and experts. 10. Establish a grant program for schools to pilot training programs for school personnel to be trained in bullying identification and intervention. 
10. Establish a grant program for schools to pilot training programs for school personnel to be trained in bullying identification and intervention. 
11. Require a report from the FCC and the administrator of the 988 Lifeline on the feasibility and need of a bullying related call line under the 988 Lifeline. 

Getting as many signatures as possible will allow us to gain as much support as possible for this bill after it is introduced. Sign this petition to honor Sammy and ensure another incident like this never happens again.

If you would like to learn more about this bill or get involved, you can email ayaan@studentsengaged.org.