8th Feb 2022

Matt Epling Safe School Law
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Bullying is unfortunately extremely prevalent today, especially in our schools, which is sadly causing long-term and severe damage to children. There are many types of bullying. Some types are very obvious, while other forms of bullying can be subtle, but it doesn’t change the effects it can have on children. Some of the different types of bullying are:

Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or something they own.

Verbal bullying involves writing or saying hurtful, mean, inappropriate, or threatening things.

Social bullying includes spreading rumors, playing harmful or horrible jokes, hurting someone’s reputation, encouraging others to exclude a particular person, etc., on a continual basis.

Cyber bullying is the fastest growing form of bullying which causes harm to others through the use of phones, computers, or any form of electronics.

Before December 2011, the State of Michigan was one of three states that did not have an anti-bullying law in place. Under the Matt Epling Safe School Law, every school is required to adopt anti-bullying policies. These policies should outline procedures for students and staff to report incidents of bullying to administration, investigate the incidents, and notify the parents of all parties involved. These policies must prohibit bullying and the schools must also work to ban retaliation against a witness, informant, or any target of bullying. The policies require identification of the people responsible for ensuring implementation.

While the law doesn’t require schools to provide staff training for the prevention of bullying, they are encouraged to do so. It would be beneficial for all staff and school administration to have proper training to prevent, identify, and respond to bullying.

Bullying is defined as any “written, verbal, or physical act, or any electronic communication that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm one or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing the following.”

  • Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one or more people.
  • Adversely affecting the ability to participate in education/activities by placing a person in “reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.”
  • Having actual and substantial detrimental effect on someone’s physical or mental health.

It is important to know that under this law, “at school” includes buses, school sponsored activities off school premises, and conduct using any telecommunications devise or service provider if the devise or provider is under control of the school district.

Matt Epling was sadly a victim of bullying when he was in eighth grade. The physical and verbal bullying he endured resulted in a horrible tragedy in which Matt Epling ended his own life.

It is imperative that schools adopt and enforce these anti-bullying policies to help keep children safe and protected.

Beier Howlett attorneys have the expertise and experience in school law to draft a comprehensive anti-bullying policy which will comply with Matt Epling Safe School Law. Contact our office today!

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