Currently, Michigan law mandates that students go to school for 180 days, but it doesn't mandate that they are safe. It is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to not provide a safe educational experience for minority youth. Current anti-bullying policies do not treat anti-minority bullying the same as "normal" bullying and they need to. Persistent and pervasive bullying against minorities is different and must be addressed.

Mandating that every school district pass a clear policy against this type of bullying is necessary. The policies must be mandated and they must enumerate categories like race, religion, weight, and sexual orientation. Without doing so they will not be as effective. If we are serious about protecting children, we must write into law what must be done. Michigan is a leader in education so we should be a leader in anti-bullying policies. Help us pass this policy today.