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.