U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., reintroduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act ( SSIA ) Jan. 29, according to a press release from education organization GLSEN.
The bill would require all public K-12 schools to enact fully inclusive anti-bullying policies that have specific protections against bullying and harassment of all students.
Local school districts would develop policies that curb bullying based on sex, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, PennLive.com noted.
Casey said while it's nice to have Kirk co-sponsor the bill, he hopes to garner more bipartisan support in Congress. It's always hard to generate Republican support for a bill, he said, when it federally mandates local school districts to implement policies.
GLSEN Executive Director Dr. Eliza Byard praised the development. "This legislation is crucial for the thousands of students, a disproportionate number of whom are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ), who face bullying and harassment each year in America's schools," said Byard.