Online Policies Show Mixed Compliance With Iowa Safe Schools Law

04 March 2008

One year after Governor Chet Culver signed the Iowa Safe School bill into law (on March 5, 2007), many schools remain out of compliance.

In order to bring attention to current school policies and the requirements of state law, the Eychaner Foundation has created a database of anti-bullying/harassment policies on it's website, www.eychanerfoundation.org.

Policies from over four-hundred public and nonpublic schools in Iowa are posted, along with the law and model policies.

"We want students, parents, educators and community members to know whether their school meets state legal requirements with their anti-bullying policies," said Michael Bowser, of the Eychaner Foundation. "Many schools do fulfill the requirements of the law, but too many still fall short of full compliance."

At least thirty-seven schools fail to protect students based on all protected classes as required by state code.

The online database, and the 2008 Survey of Iowa Schools Anti-Bullying Policies, will be actively maintained by the foundation as additional schools respond or update their policies.

The Iowa Safe School Law passed in 2007 required all Public and Non Public Schools in Iowa to enact anti-bullying provisions as specified by state law in local school codes by September 1, 2007.

"Our goal is to have every public and nonpublic school in Iowa comply with state law, and more importantly, insure that every student in Iowa is free from harassment and bullying," said Rich Eychaner, President of the Eychaner Foundation.

The Eychaner Foundation also invests in distinguished minority students through scholarship programs.

View Iowa schools' policies online at http://www.eychanerfoundation.org.

Schools Make Progress But Many Districts Fail To Comply With State Anti-Bullying Law

19 February 2008

The 2008 Survey of Iowa Schools Anti-Bullying Policies released today by the Eychaner Foundation shows school districts are making progress complying with state law, but much work remains to be done.

"We're pleased 68% of Iowa schools have updated their anti-bullying policies," said Rich Eychaner, of the Eychaner Foundation. "But many of those policies remain short of full compliance with state law."

At least thirty-seven schools fail to protect students based on all protected classes as required by state code.

Seventy-nine Public and Seventy-one Nonpublic Schools did not return policies prior to the February 15 th survey deadline. The online report will be periodically updated as additional schools respond.

The Iowa Safe School Law passed in 2007 required all Public and Non Public Schools in Iowa to enact anti-bullying provisions as specified by state law in local school codes by September 1, 2007.

The Eychaner Foundation's Anti-Bullying Policies Survey documents individual school districts compliance with anti-bullying policies in Iowa's Public and Nonpublic schools with current state law.

The survey and Safe School Law are available for download online at http://www.eychanerfoundation.org.