Take Action: House Vote on Bullying This Week! The School Violence Prevention Act passed committee on Tuesday and will be up for a vote on the House floor early next week! This is it. Act now and urge your representative to vote for Senate Bill 526! Sample Letter for Campaign Subject: Don't let the bullies win Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Please help make our schools safer for all kids and vote for SB 526, the School Violence Prevention Act. As a voter in your district, I know that bullying affects children right here. All kids deserve to be safe, regardless of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. An overwhelming majority of North Carolinians support this bill, and I hope you will too. Sincerely,

Campaign Launched: June 15, 2009

Background Information

Take action to stop bullying and harassment in our schools!

Here are some key reasons to support the School Violence Prevention Act.

• Students have a right to a sound, basic education, but too often bullying and harassment interfere with that right.
• Bullying that goes unaddressed also contributes to more severe violence, like school shootings. A study by the U.S. Secret Service indicates that a history of bullying was a factor in three-quarters of school shootings in recent years.
• Because they feel unsafe, victimized youth are pushed out of schools and into high-risk behavior. These youth are more likely to skip school, drop out, engage in substance abuse, or worse.
• Every student deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Physical appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity are the three most frequent reasons for bullying and harassment in schools, yet these types of bullying are often overlooked by school personnel.
• This bill protects ALL students from bullying, and its inclusion of enumerated categories will provide clear direction to teachers, administrators, and students about the scope of the law. Teachers want clear policies that will give them the backing they need to address problems in the classroom and on the playground.
• While harassment of any kind is unacceptable and should be dealt with quickly, firmly, and with appropriate consequences and remedies, certain groups of people have suffered systematic institutional prejudice, and discrimination and as a result are at a disproportionate risk of being the target of harassment and violence.