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Addressing School Bullying Since the Onset of COVID-19

March 31, 2023 |

A blue cover for a research brief about school bullying showing students laughing at an image on a cell phone

Among the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic is a shift in the nature and intensity of school bullying, perhaps symptomatic of the rapid changes and stressors that PK-12 students have endured since 2020. In this MERC research and policy brief, we explore how school bullying has changed since the onset of COVID-19 as well as research-based strategies for how educators and division leaders can best respond to it. The brief answers the following questions: 1) What is the nature of school bullying since the onset of COVID-19? 2) Which students have been particularly impacted by bullying since the pandemic? 3) What are recommended strategies for preventing school bullying since the onset of COVID-19? 4) What are current policies in Virginia and MERC school divisions related to addressing bullying? 5) What are the key takeaways and enduring questions about addressing school bullying since the onset of COVID-19?

Listen to the podcast episode:

Abstract · Addressing School Bullying Since the Onset of COVID-19