District unveils policy to prevent bullying in and out of schools

The D.C. Office of Human Rights presented a model citywide bullying prevention policy to Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) on Thursday, making the District one of the first cities in the nation to take such a broad approach to protecting young people from harassment. Gray signed a law in June that requires schools and all other youth-serving agencies — including public libraries, parks and Metro — to develop anti-bullying policies. Each policy must meet certain requirements based on the law, guided by a model policy the city’s Youth Bullying Prevention Task Force developed. The task force recommended language that agencies can adopt, including provisions that require each agency to define bullying and outline how victims and witnesses can report bullying incidents. The model policy also suggests investigation procedures and possible consequences for bullies, from reprimands up to a ban from certain government facilities.