As the safety of U.S. schools has become an important public
policy issue, interest in the problem of school bullying has
intensified. Research indicates that this type of adolescent
victimization occurs frequently, particularly in middle school
grades, and can result in serious consequences for both bully
and victim. In 2002, a report released by the U.S. Secret
Service concluded that bullying played a significant role in
many school shootings and that efforts should be made to
eliminate bullying behavior. As awareness of harassment,
intimidation and bullying in the school setting have grown,
state legislatures have been addressing this problem.
Consequently, since 2001, all but a few states have enacted
legislation of some form to combat bullying. According to a
nationally representative survey conducted by the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD),
approximately 30 percent of American schoolchildren in grades
six through 10 have been bullied or have bullied other children
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