Bill targets bullying procedures

A new statewide definition of bullying would include comments posted on websites like Facebook and Instagram, and local schools would have to keep track of all bullying incidents.

State Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, has proposed a bill that would require school districts to document the number and nature of bullying incidents that take place every year as part of their annual performance reports. The proposal, which was approved by the Indiana House of Representatives and is now on its way to the Senate, also modifies the definition of bullying to include written communications sent digitally or electronically.

Requiring schools to track the number of bullying cases that happen each year will give school districts a better idea of what issues need to be addressed and the best way to train teachers and volunteers to deal with them, Porter said.

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