New Anti-Bullying Law in Massachusetts!

It is with great pleasure to write about the new anti-bullying program that is now required in schools in Massachusetts. On March 25, 2010, the House approved a bill that requires all public schools, charter schools and some schools providing special education services to develop and implement a plan to prevent bullying and cyber-bullying from happening and to discipline bullies. The law prohibits any bullying on school grounds; at any school sponsored event on or off campus; through the use of the school's computer system while on or off campus; through the use of any personal digital device on campus and in any non-school related situations if the bullying affects the school environment or creates a hostile environment at school for the victim.
The law also requires schools to develop a bullying prevention plan and to integrate bullying prevention instruction into their curriculum. Another provision requires schools to report incidents of bullying to local police and prosecutors if it is possible that criminal charges might be pursued.