Comment on the poll.

A recent issue if U.S. News and World Report spotlights two high schools, one in Milwaukee and one in New York City, that are havens for gay students and other students prone to bullying. Despite the improved graduation rates and grades enjoyed by the students in both schools, some critics argue that such schools are just another form of segregation, masking the real problem instead of solving it. Plans for another gay school, slated to open in Chicago, have stalled among skepticism.

While schools strive to be safe havens for all students, some school leaders acknowledge that gay students remain casualties in the fight against bullying. So, principals, are "gay-friendly" schools the answer to keeping these students safe? If you have not already done so, please take this week's Principal's Poll at www.principals.org and leave your comments below.

Posted by Bob Farrace at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Would anonymous tiplines reduce the incidence of bullying in schools?
(Final results)

57% Yes
43% No

Total Votes: 163

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MSNBC recently reported on the availability of a new tipline by which students can anonymously report threats and incidents of bullying in their schools. The Web site at SchoolTipline forwards the anonymous tip to the school and sends a reminder to the school official if the tip has gone unread after a day or so.

Principals in middle and high schools regularly confront issues of bullying in school. So where does an anonymous tipline fit among the arsenal of antibullying resources available to schools? Can they help make a difference? Please take this week's Principal's Poll at www.principals.org and leave your comments on the topic below. (Poll is not closed.)

Posted by Bob Farrace at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

On September 17 the House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow more funds to flow to low-income schools to improve school safety.

The School Safety Enhancements Act (H.R. 2352) would allow more low-income schools to participate in the Secure Our Schools (SOS) program by lowering the local matching grant requirement to 20%, and increasing the federal share to a maximum of 80%. The bill would also authorize $50 million annually for SOS grants. In addition, the bill would add to the list of allowable uses of grant funds by including a hotline for students and others to report dangerous incidents. Currently funds may be used to help schools pay for metal detectors, lighting, locks, security assessments, training for administrators, students, and teachers, coordination with law enforcement, and other measures designed to improve school safety.

For more information and to apply for SOS grants, visit http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=240.

“Whether it is fighting terrorism or working to keep our schools free of violence, I have always believed that the government's first responsibility is to protect the people. Our government must help to ensure that our children are safe and protected from violence of any kind in school. I am proud to report that this Congress has taken another step to ensure a safe learning environment for our children by passing my School Safety Enhancements Act,” said Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ), the bill’s sponsor.

The bill now goes to the Senate where it awaits consideration. Information on when the bill might be voted on is not yet available.

Interested in school safety issues? Visit www.principals.org/safety for a host of resources on school climate, crisis prevention and management, harassment and bullying prevention, and substance and drug abuse prevention.

Posted by Mark Ames, NASSP Gov't Relations Mgr at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On June 11 the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would allow more funds to flow to low-income schools to improve school safety.

The School Safety Enhancements Act of 2007 (H.R. 2352) would allow more low-income schools to participate in the Secure Our Schools (SOS) program by lowering the local matching grant requirement to 20%, and increasing the federal share to a maximum of 80%. The bill would also authorize $50 million annually for SOS grants. In addition, the bill would add to the list of allowable uses of grant funds by including a hotline for students and others to report dangerous incidents. Currently funds may be used to help schools pay for metal detectors, lighting, locks, security assessments, training for administrators, students, and teachers, coordination with law enforcement, and other measures designed to improve school safety.

The bill now goes to the House floor for consideration. Information on when the bill might be considered is not yet available. There is a companion bill in the Senate, S. 1217, however no action has occurred on this bill since its introduction in 2007.

Interested in school safety issues? Visit www.principals.org/safety for a host of resources on school climate, crisis prevention and management, harassment and bullying prevention, and substance and drug abuse prevention.

Posted by Mark Ames, NASSP Gov't Relations Mgr at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On May 22, the Senate passed the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (S. 1965). As previously reported on the Principal’s Policy Blog, the bill would:

 Require schools receiving E-Rate funds to teach students about Internet safety and the dangers posed by social networking Web sites and chat rooms, and provide information on cyberbullying awareness and response;

o This bill would not require schools to block access to social networking Web sites and chat rooms as a precondition of receiving E-Rate funds;

 Direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in collaboration with nonprofits, state and local governments, private technology companies, and Internet service providers, to conduct a public awareness campaign on strategies to promote the safe use of the Internet by children;

o Require the FTC to submit an annual report to Congress on its promotion of Internet safety;

 Establish an Online Safety and Technology working group at the U.S. Commerce Department to review and evaluate industry efforts to promote online safety through parental control technology and blocking and filtering software. The working group will include representatives from the business community, public interest groups, and federal agencies.

 Require Internet service providers to report child pornography and significantly increases fines for failing to do so.

In a press release following passage of S. 1965, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), said “Keeping children safe on the Internet must be a multi-layered approach to safety, both on and offline…The Internet is a valuable resource for children and this measure improves safety and addresses parental control without infringing on the First Amendment.”

The House of Representatives must approve an identical version of the bill before it goes to the president for his signature or veto. We’ll keep you updated as developments occur, so check back often!

Although NASSP has not taken a position on the bill, we have developed a position statement on Internet safety that provides guidance and recommendations for school leaders to assist them in their efforts to protect students while preparing them for the technologies they will encounter. To view this statement, please visit http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=33&DID=55883.

Posted by Mark Ames, NASSP Gov't Relations Mgr at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week would provide schools with the resources and support they need to create robust emergency preparedness plans in case of a terrorist attack or national disaster.

The Schools Empowered to Respond Act (H.R. 5766) would establish an Office of National School Preparedness and Response within the Department of Homeland Security to create training materials for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary teachers and school personnel; ensure that school district emergency management plans are consistent with federally recommended practices; and involve school personnel in the planning and execution of terrorism response plans.

The bill would also allow grantees receiving funds under the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program to enhance school preparedness, including the development of school security plans, the implementation staff development days to develop emergency plans and train and drill plans with appropriate staff, and the purchase of communications equipment vital for executing school security or school transportation security plans. In addition, school resource officers would be considered “emergency response providers” and receive appropriate training to respond to terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

“As a child, I would practice getting under my school desk to prepare for a nuclear attack. Today, we know that there is more to emergency preparedness than simple measures like ‘duck-and-cover,’” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC). “Today, just as our Federal, state, and local governments have become more aware of risks, schools must be prepared for natural disasters, targeted acts of violence, and other emergencies. Robust, realistic planning and training is critical to ensure those who we entrust with our children’s safety for the majority of the day are ready to respond.”

NASSP strongly supports the Schools Empowered to Respond Act, which will help schools develop their crisis plans as required now by most states and ensure that school personnel receive vital training in responding to terrorist attacks and natural disasters. The bill is also supported by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Association of School Resource Officers, and the National School Boards Association.

Posted by Amanda Karhuse at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Should educators pursue litigation for cyberbullying and online pranks?
Final results

72% Yes, students need to know it's a serious offense
17% Yes, only when there's no school-based recourse
4% No, litigation won't let the school heal
 1% No, such activities rarely cause real harm
 6% No, it's a school matter only

Total Votes: 189

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It's now trite to say that cyberbulling and online harassment are huge issues for administrators, and as ed law professor Scott McLeod pointed out in his session at the 2008 NASSP Convention this past weekend, the courts have not been particularly friendly to administrators who have taken action to curtail such activities. (Click here to see Scott's PowerPoint, handout, and other guidance.)

Yet, as a recent Christian Science Monitor article explains, while school leaders' hands are often tied to treat cyberbullying as a school matter, more and more educators are pursuing private litigation or criminal charges to strike back against online pranksters.

This poll is now closed, but we invite you to leave your comments on the results below.

Posted by Bob Farrace at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scott Pfeifer, NASSP Board member and principal of Centennial High School in Ellicott City, MD, represented the nation's principals at a press conference on school-crime reduction hosted by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), chair of the U.S. Senate's Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. "One of the primary goals of principals is to create a personalized learning environment in which all students and staff feel free to pursue their interests and continued education and development," Pfeifer said, echoing a primary theme of Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform. "However, personalization cannot occur if students and staff are distracted by school crime and violence," Pfeifer continued.

The press conference was called to drum-up support for the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, which the Senate will debate this week. “This bill provides $2.7 billion to give cops on the beat the tools they need to protect our communities from crime, gangs, drugs, domestic violence and crimes against children. The Democratic Congress will continue to stand up for families and neighborhoods by standing up against the President’s veto,” said Mikulski. President Bush has repeatedly threatened to veto any bill that exceeds his requested amount.

Posted by Mark Ames, NASSP Gov't Relations Mgr at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just before leaving for the August recess, lawmakers called attention to the issue of Internet safety and how to protect America’s children from online sexual predators.

On August 2, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (S. 1965), a bill designed to increase public awareness of the dangers posed to children by the Internet and to develop technologies that would help parents protect their children from those dangers.

“This legislation will provide important tools to help protect our children from online predators and other cyber threats…The Internet is a significant part of many people’s lives, and we must ensure that our children are educated about how to safely use this resource,” Stevens said in a press release.

The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act would:

• Require schools receiving E-Rate funds to teach students about Internet safety and the dangers posed by social networking Web sites and chat rooms, and to provide information on cyberbullying awareness and response;
• Direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in collaboration with nonprofits, state and local governments, private technology companies, and Internet service providers, to conduct a public awareness campaign on strategies to promote the safe use of the Internet by children;
• Require the FTC to submit an annual report to Congress on its promotion of Internet safety;
• Authorize $5 million to carry out this campaign for both FY 2008 and FY 2009;
• Establish an Online Safety and Technology working group at the U.S. Commerce Department to review and evaluate industry efforts to promote online safety through parental control technology and blocking and filtering software. The working group will include representatives from the business community, public interest groups, and federal agencies.
• Require Internet service providers to report child pornography and significantly increases fines for failing to do so.

This legislation comes on the heels of efforts in both chambers to focus national attention on the issue of Internet safety.

At an August 3 press conference, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that the committee will hold hearings on the use of the Internet to perpetrate or facilitate sex crimes when Congress returns in September.

“We cannot allow the Internet to be a playground where our children are one mouseclick away from sexual predators. There have been several bills introduced that seek to strengthen federal tools of investigation and prosecution that are used to combat these crimes, and that are designed to toughen the federal laws that make such crimes illegal,” Conyers said in a statement.

NASSP understands that this is an important issue for students and administrators and has developed a position statement on Internet safety that provides guidance and recommendations for school leaders in their efforts to protect students while preparing them for the technologies they will encounter. To view this statement, please visit http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=1285&DID=55883.

Posted by Mark Ames, NASSP Gov't Relations Mgr at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)