Bullying has become an important issue in today's society. According to the National Education Association, one out of every four children is bullied in school. Research shows that bullying can negatively impact a child’s access to learning and lead to bad grades, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in school, increased dropout rates, and truancy. Children with disabilities are three times more likely to be bullied than their non-disabled peers.
Our school districts have policies that address bullying and state how “it will not be tolerated”   However the policies have no mention of what to do when the bully is an adult.  It doesn’t say what will happen when a child is subjected to retaliation or reprisal after reporting an incident, and it doesn’t list the consequences of not following through with policies.  
As parents and community members we need to know our children will be kept safe and that the policies that ensure this are being followed.  We need to insist on community wide education regarding bullying and continuing education for our schools.  Not just one rally a year or posters down the hall, but a constant in your face program that addresses not only the victims but the bullies and their families.  
Please sign our petition to show support for change.  Our students shouldn’t have to fear going to school.   The longer we wait to make change, the more drastic measures our kids believe they need to take.