Report: Bullying & drug-related cases in New York schools rising
Data from the 2023-2024 school year shows that bullying makes up nearly 62% of all safety incidents, with more than 29,000 reported cases in New York.
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Bullying is the most frequently reported school incident in the state, according to seven years of safety data reviewed by the New York state comptroller.
Data from the 2023-2024 school year revealed that bullying made up nearly 62% of all safety incidents, with more than 29,000 reported cases in New York.
"Emotions seem to be on edge and more raw perhaps than they have been in other years. I think that might very well contribute to the issue of bullying." said Thomas DiNapoli, the New York state comptroller.
DiNapoli says this data shows there is more to do inside and outside the classroom, and districts need to increase efforts to make sure bullying and drug-related incidents do not go under-reported.
"To them, those problems, being liked, getting decent grades, those problems and the resolution of those problems mean the world to those kids." said Jeffrey Reynolds, president and CEO of the Family & Children's Association.
Reynolds also says his organization is "working to help educate parents about things like cannabis use, things like alcohol use, things that perhaps don't seem like a big deal in the scheme of things, especially in the middle of an opioid crisis."
The comptroller says reports of incidents like assaults and sexual offenses have dropped significantly, largely due to changes in how those incidents are defined and reported.
The exact cause behind the increases is still unknown.
