Peer-to-Peer:Violence and Bullying:Examining the Federal Reponse

"Based on the evidence gathered by the Commission, we conclude that despite the harm that
peer-to-peer bullying and harassment due to a student‘s membership in certain classes, such
as race, religion, or sexual orientation, current federal laws (and the laws of many states) do
not fully protect all students from peer-to-peer bullying and harassment resulting from
animus toward their group status.

Specifically, the Commission‘s findings, by majority vote, are:

1. Bullying and harassment, including bullying and harassment based on sex, race, national
origin, disability, sexual orientation, or religion, are harmful to American youth.

2. Current federal civil rights laws do not provide the U.S. Department of Education with
jurisdiction to protect students from peer-to-peer harassment that is solely on the basis of
religion.

3. The current federal civil rights laws do not protect students from peer-to-peer
harassment that is solely on the basis of sexual orientation..."