As October wraps up National Bullying Prevention Month, the state is sharing data around what we’re seeing in Michigan schools and efforts underway to combat bullying and the effects on Michigan kids.

Data at a glance:

• About one in five students in the U.S. reports being bullied at school.

• Nationally, cyberbullying incidents have nearly doubled in the past decade.

• In Michigan, nearly one of every four high schoolers reports being bullied at school.

• One in five Michigan students reported being cyberbullied.

In a confidential survey of high schoolers conducted by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), 9^th graders reported they experienced the most bullying on school property within the past year.

“There is no place for bullying in our schools,” Sheila Alles, interim state superintendent said. “Our children need safe, supportive environments to learn and develop into successful and thoughtful adults.”

Earlier this month, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office released the latest data from the OK2SAY platform, which serves as a reporting tool for Michigan students.

In September alone, OK2SAY received nearly 400 tips, a 30 percent increase from September 2017. The top two categories receiving the most tips were suicide and bullying.

Since its launch in 2014, 10,000 tips have been submitted to the platform.

The platform and programming throughout the state is focused on providing students with education and resources around bullying.

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) continues its statewide Anti-Bullying Tour, featuring  Anthony Ianni, a graduate of Michigan State University who became the first known individual who has autism to play division I college basketball. Ianni talks with students about his experiences being bullied as a child.

In our 2018 Youth Advisory Council/Committee (YAC) Databook survey, YAC-ers cited bullying as their top concern.

CMF members are working to provide resources and support for students in this area.

The Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation provides funding for the Michigan Masonic Model Student Assistance Program to help train high school teachers and guidance counselors to recognize the signs of teenage bullying.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan has provided funding to identify strategies to address the physical and emotional effects of bullying.

As Crain’s Detroit Business reports, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation recently awarded a $1.9 million grant to Playworks to expand programming for students in Southeast Michigan. As CMF has reported, Playworks provides coaches and training to schools to facilitate play at recess and to make sure kids all feel welcome and involved. In the schools where it’s been implemented 85 percent of school staff have reported fewer incidents of bullying in school. 

Want more?

Learn more about OK2SAY.

Connect with MDCR’s Anti-Bullying Relentless Tour.