My daughter has suffered from relentless bullying throughout her school life, leading to severe mental health issues. This is a personal plea for change. The current policies and their enforcement are not sufficient to deter bullies or protect victims. Bullying is a serious issue that affects millions of students every year. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, about 20% of students aged 12-18 experienced bullying nationwide in 2019.

The consequences for bullies are often minimal and do not effectively discourage this harmful behavior. I firmly believe that any student proven to be engaging in bullying should be suspended immediately pending an investigation. If the same student is suspended twice for such behavior, they should then be excluded from the school.

Bullying can lead to tragic outcomes including depression, anxiety, and even suicide among young people - a stark reality we cannot ignore anymore. The Centers for Disease Control reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youths aged 10-24; some of these deaths are directly related to bullying.

We need stronger anti-bullying policies in our schools now more than ever before - ones that will truly hold bullies accountable and ensure our children's safety and well-being at school where they spend most of their time growing up.

Please sign this petition if you agree with me that it's time we take serious action against bullying in schools.