This call for change is deeply personal. My daughter was a victim of school bullying. Her pleas were ignored, with her school refusing to acknowledge the incidents as bullying. No child should endure this neglect. Bullying can lead to severe emotional and psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation in extreme cases.

"Tweens," those aged 9-12, are experiencing bullying and cyberbullying now, and if a school does not report an incident, the image of the school as an immaculate bully-free symbol remains true. However, just because a metric shows that a school is free of bullying on paper does not mean that is the case in actuality. 

Research shows that approximately 13% of tweens experience bullying online and at school (Patchin and Hinduja, 2020). Similarly, almost 20% of students aged 12 to 18 experience bullying in the U.S. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019), yet many incidents go unrecognized and unreported. 

Therefore, we ask for the implementation of a law that necessitates the reporting of all bullying incidents to state authorities, validated or not. This is critical to ensuring transparency and that each case receives due attention. We need to uphold our children's right to a safe, secure, and inclusive educational environment, and strict reporting standards are one step closer to achieving this goal.

By signing this petition, you support the idea that no bullying case should be overlooked. Let's prioritize our children's well-being. Please sign and share.