New Delaware laws target bullying

DOVER, Del. - July 27, 2012 (WPVI) -- State officials are strengthening efforts to crack down on bullying and cyberbullying of Delaware school students.

Gov. Jack Markell is signing a law that expands reporting requirements for incidents of school bullying.

Under existing law, school districts must report substantiated cases of bullying to the state Department of Education. The new law requires reporting all incidents of bullying, regardless of whether they are substantiated by local officials.

Another bill to be signed by Markell on Friday calls for a uniform statewide policy on cyberbullying to be adopted by all public schools.

Cyberbullying is verbal bullying done online, often through social media sites.

Officials have said the attorney general's office will develop a carefully crafted cyberbullying policy that respects the free speech rights of students when they are not at school.

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delaware, school, bullying, gov. jack markell, local/state

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