Anti-bullying supporter expresses frustration over ‘Race to the Top’

Kevin Epling, co-director of BullyPolice U.S.A. and a staunch advocate in Michigan’s drive to pass anti-bullying legislation, says he is disappointed that in the race to pass reforms to qualify for millions in federal education cash, the state ignored passing comprehensive anti-bullying legislation.

In an e-mail to Facebook supporters, Epling wrote:

Well the last minute scurrying is done to pass bills to make MI appear to be in line with the criteria for “Race to the Top” But I feel a vital piece was missed: Anti-bullying legislation. Hidden within the criteria is school safety. it is not a requirement but something to be looked at and graded on how schools are doing. Those states that are actively engage in change and have a law on the books may be graded differently.

Once again MI’s politics and personal bias played a role in the legislation not moving forward. It is about school safety and proponents took sides to kill any movement rather than looking at a golden opportunity to help our kids by requiring schools to be more proactive in promoting safe school environments.

Rumors abounded as the legislature’s conference committees were meeting to discuss finalizing reforms to qualify for “Race to the Top,” last week. In fact, Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, put out a press release late Wednesday night expressing concern that Sens. Gerald VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) and Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) “may support adding ‘gay rights’ language to a public school funding bill under the guise of protecting students from bullying, the first time ever such language would appear anywhere in state law.”

While officials in the legislature denied any such move was underway, the rumor that the conference committee would add anti-bullying legislation to the final conference report persisted through Thursday, Friday and Saturday, until both houses had approved the conference report.

Michigan Messenger reported earlier this month that lawmakers were considering how to get comprehensive anti-bullying legislation passed as part of the reforms. The reforms were necessary to qualify for federal cash being rewarded to states for innovation in education. Among the reforms the state did pass were expansion of charter schools, new teacher certification requirements, tying teacher and administrator performance to student performance and allowing the state to take over failing schools.