Schools Make Progress But Many Districts Fail To Comply With State Anti-Bullying Law
For Immediate Release
February 20, 2008

Des Moines - 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.

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