Education Roundup
SACRAMENTO -- The California Department of Education (CDE) today issues this week's Education Roundup featuring education-related announcements of public interest.
California School Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 22 introduced by Assembly Member Ben Hueso (D-Chula Vista) is proposing that March be California School Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Almost 35 percent of youth in the nation are involved in bullying each year, either as a perpetrator or victim. About 8 percent of pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 miss at least one day of school every month due to a fear of being bullied. Bullying may take many forms, including verbal, physical, and psychological abuse, and can happen in many places on and off school grounds, as well as through electronic means. Students with special needs are especially vulnerable and are at greater risk of experiencing bullying on a daily basis.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Torlakson urges everyone to recognize that, "Bullying is not acceptable behavior, and schools must strive every day to make the environment safe and secure for all students."
The CDE adopted in 2001 a policy on bullying prevention designed to help students, parents, and school staff develop a coordinated, systemic approach to bullying prevention. For more information on bullying prevention, go toBullying and Hate-Motivated Behavior Prevention - School Environment.
CollegeWeekLive Event Returns
High school students, parents, and guidance counselors are invited to attend the free online college fair called CollegeWeekLive SPRING that features more than 300 colleges and universities from across the country and world. People can take virtual tours of campuses, see live video presentations from admissions experts, and hear about college life from current students. The event on March 23-24, 2011, also has presentations from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Financial Aid, CollegeBoard, The Common Application, ACT, Inc., and The Princeton Review. Families can learn about financial aid and scholarships, get admissions advice from experts, and how to write a college application essay. For more information, please visit College Fairs Online -- CollegeWeekLive (Outside Source).
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100