The Investigators at Local 4 have obtained a list of which Michigan schools and districts aren’t following the state’s anti-bullying law.
In January Local 4 Investigators put in questions to the Michigan Department of Education. We wanted to know which school districts had submitted policies and if the law is being enforced.
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The department told us that while most districts in Michigan are complying with the law and have filed their anti-bullying policies there are 19 that haven’t -- and there’s no way to hold them accountable.
The department saying, “There is no enforcement mechanism in the law for lack of compliance. The department follows up with districts that do not comply and requests that they submit the policies.”
Out of the 19 entities that hadn’t filed anti-bullying policies, the state was able to find policies online for 11 of them. That left eight entities without confirmation -- so we reached out to them.
Cornerstone Jefferson-Douglass Academy in Detroit sent us this link to their anti-bullying policy. Discovery Creative Pathways also sent us a copy of their policy. Highland Park City Schools got back to us, and explained that since they don’t directly serve students they don’t need a policy.
We are still waiting on an explanation from five schools as to why they haven’t filed a policy with the state.
Jamie Kaniarz, the Executive Director of Defeat the Label, said parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask their school two simple questions: What is their schools bullying policy? And what program does the school use to address bullying? She said those answers matter more than most families realize.
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Schools that haven’t submitted policies to Michigan Department of Education
The Michigan Department of Education released the following statement and lists.
“The vast majority of districts in Michigan have complied with the law by filing their anti-bullying policies with the Michigan Department of Education. There is no enforcement mechanism in the law for lack of compliance. The department follows up with districts that do not comply and requests that they submit the policies.”
Entities that have an anti-bullying policy that meets the requirements and that MDE was able to find posted on their website (but has not been submitted to MDE):
- Charlton Heston Academy
- Gerald Dawkins Academy
- GEE Compass Academy
- Inkster Preparatory Academy
- Kingston Community School District
- Lincoln-King Adams-Young Academy
- Mill Creek Academy
- Pembroke Academy
- Pittsfield Acres Academy
- Red Oak Academy
- Westfield Charter Academy
Entities that have not submitted an anti-bullying policy to MDE and for which MDE has not been able to locate a policy on their website. This does not necessarily mean the district does not have a policy.:
- Barack Obama Leadership Academy
- Cornerstone Jefferson-Douglass Academy*
- Discovery Creative Pathways*
- Elm River Township School District
- Highland Park City Schools*
- Kalamazoo Prep Academy
- Lakeshore High School and Career Center
- New Dawn Academy of Warren