Tackling Bullying: Research-Based Tips for School Leaders

What are schools to do about bullying? Research suggests that bullying affects most students at some time during the school year, either as a victim, aggressor, or bystander. In “Prevention of Bullying in Schools, Colleges, and Universities,” a compilation of eleven briefs, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) offers lessons learned and practical research-based recommendations for the entire school community to help create safe learning environments for all children.

AERA shares key lessons learned about bullying geared toward school leaders, listed below:

(1)  Bullying takes many forms. Everything from physical and verbal aggression to social exclusion to cyber-bullying can be a form of bullying. Bullying happens any time there is a “systematic use and abuse of power.”

(2)  Bullying has long-lasting consequences. Bullying victims experience higher rates of mental and physical health problems that can persist into adulthood. Perpetrators are at risk of poor school adjustment and delinquency in school and criminal behavior in adulthood.

(3)  Bullying is often aimed at specific groups. LGBTQ youth, children with disabilities, and African American youth are more likely to be involved in bullying incidents.

(4)  Certain forms of bullying qualify as “harassment.” By law, schools are required to protect children from harassment. Check out www.StopBullying.gov to identify and understand the obligations of your school.

(5)  A positive school climate is essential for bullying reduction. Researchers recommend school leaders develop and implement a shared vision of school culture and climate.

(6)  Anti-bullying partnerships that involve all school members in prevention efforts can contribute to bullying reduction. All school personnel—students, principals, parents, bus monitors, security guards, cafeteria and janitorial workers, and secretaries—can make a significant difference.

(7)  Often overlooked, bullying continues into college. Seventy percent of students who have been bullied in elementary and high school are also bullied in college.

(8)  Teachers typically receive little professional development related to bullying prevention. A recent national study found that just half of school employees receive anti-bullying training, despite their need for instruction in this area.

One of the most notable findings, described in the ninth brief, “Using Evidence-Based Programs in Schools to Take on Bullying,” AERA reports that bullying is frequently undetected by adults. A review of thousands of school climate surveys shows a remarkably consistent discrepancy between adult and student perceptions of school safety. While adults report that school safety is a “mild” or “moderate” problem, students report that it is a “severe” problem.

As a first step, AERA recommends that schools assess bullying with surveys and focus groups to understand the true nature and extent of bullying. Reliable and valid surveys provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rather than self-created surveys, can shed light on who is being bullied, when and where bullying is happening, and how staff typically respond to bullying.

Results from the assessment should then be used to adjust the school climate, communicate with stakeholders, and match school needs with evidence-based programs. AERA recommends reviewing the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, Blue Prints for Healthy Youth Development, and the Model Programs Guide to identify effective, evidence-based programs that fit specific school needs and can be feasibly implemented.

Many who are bullied lose interest in school and experience a host of physical and mental health problems that can persist into adulthood. Even the most famous among us have experienced bullying, from Oscar winners to Olympians. By helping administrators better understand some relatively simple steps they can take to reduce this pervasive problem, these AERA reports can make schools safer and more productive learning environments for all students.

Feature Photo: cc/(Lee Morley)