# Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2021: Plain Language Summary

This bill requires schools across the country to create and enforce strong policies against bullying and harassment. Right now, schools handle bullying differently depending on where they're located, and some don't have clear rules about it at all. This bill would change that by requiring every school district that receives federal education funding to establish written policies that specifically prohibit bullying and harassment, then actually enforce them.

The bill defines bullying as conduct that makes a student afraid or prevents them from participating in school activities. It covers physical bullying like hitting, verbal bullying like name-calling, social bullying like exclusion, and cyberbullying through texts, emails, or social media. Importantly, the bill requires schools to specifically address bullying based on a student's race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, religion, or other characteristics. Schools would also have to tell students and parents about these policies every year and set up a clear process for reporting bullying incidents.

Schools would need to collect data on how often bullying happens and make this information public so parents and communities can see whether the problem is getting better or worse. The bill also requires the federal government to evaluate whether these policies actually work and report back to Congress every two years. The bill doesn't replace existing civil rights laws—it adds to them, meaning students would still have all their current legal protections while also getting these new school-level protections. The goal is to create safer learning environments where students aren't afraid to come to school and can focus on their education.

Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2021

Sánchez, Linda T.

Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2021 This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion. Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department&nbsp;of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.