Nearly All Mass. Schools Meet Anti-Bully Deadline

Nearly every public school district in Massachusetts has filed an anti-bullying plan with the state.

Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester said Monday that 390 out of 393 public school districts and charter schools have complied with the Dec. 31 deadline set by a new state law aimed at curbing bullying in schools.

"I'm proud of our school districts," Chester said. "They've stepped up to the plate on a new set of requirements and they've done it under a very quick timeline. It's been less than six months."

The law requires schools to create a bullying prevention and intervention plan that prohibits bullying, cyberbullying and retaliation.

Districts and schools that have yet to submit their plans will be notified in writing.

Even with the schools' plans, Chester says there's more work to be done.

"Not only calling students on behavior that is bullying, but we need to be insisting for all of our students that they're respectful and civil to one another. That is just part of being part of a society."

Lawmakers approved the anti-bullying bill after several incidents including the death of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince, who took her life last year after allegedly being tormented by several South Hadley High School classmates.