By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-900724.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Lawmakers at the state Capitol have been examining ways to address bullying at Michigan's schools.
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The state board of education has already established anti-bullying guidelines. But school districts are not required to adopt those rules. Democratic state Representative Pam Byrnes sponsored the anti-bullying bill.
"And some school districts are using the model code, or the model policy that the state board of education has adopted," she says. "But not all school districts have."
She says she hopes school districts would create rules that also focused on cyber-bullying. Many lawmakers agree that problems with kids picking on each other online and over digital devices has gone too far, and schools need to be more involved.
The state Senate is also looking at an anti-bullying bill. Byrnes says she's hopeful the measure will be approved soon by the Legislature.