News Release
12/15/08
New Evaluation Shows Colorado Trust Initiative Reduces Bullying Over Time
Denver, CO – An independent evaluation of The Colorado Trust's three-year, $9 million statewide Bullying Prevention initiative shows that bullying in participating schools and community-based organizations across Colorado was prevalent during the initiative's first year – particularly in middle schools – but declined over the three-year period.
Bullying decreased when adults and students were willing to intervene, treat each other fairly and show they care. Positive relationships among adults and students and a culture of trust and fairness had a direct impact on reducing bullying.
The findings also show an association between bullying and academic achievement. Schools with less bullying had higher scores on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) in reading, writing and math combined during the first two years of the initiative.
"The data did not reveal whether low-achieving schools provided a favorable environment for bullying or whether bullying interfered with learning and achievement," said lead evaluator Kirk Williams of Cadre Colorado, LLC. "Both are likely true."
Of the 54 schools participating in the three years of the initiative and evaluation, almost one-third of schools that experienced less bullying in year one had higher-than-average CSAP scores. In year two, that number increased to almost half of schools – 47%.
The Colorado Trust launched the Bullying Prevention effort in 2005 to help youths and adults in school districts, schools and community-based organizations intervene in and prevent bullying through training, networking and other strategies. The 45 grantees estimate they reached 50,000 young people and adults in 40 Colorado counties through the initiative.
"There are many factors that influence the health and well-being of children and youths, including a safe, positive school environment," said Irene M. Ibarra, president and CEO of The Colorado Trust. "What common sense tells this research now documents – that positive relationships and a school culture of trust and fairness not only reduce bullying, but are linked to schools with better student achievement. This research confirms that we cannot afford to leave bullying unaddressed."
The Bullying Prevention initiative's year-one findings show that the majority of students involved in the evaluation in fifth through 12th grades throughout Colorado said they had experienced physical, verbal or Internet bullying. And students from elementary through high school reported that they had bullied others that year. However, the frequency of bullying was low. Students reported bullying others once or twice in a year.
Boys were 75% more likely to use physical bullying than girls and 22% more likely to bully others verbally. The evaluators found no difference between boys and girls for cyberbullying. Bullying incidents did appear to be higher in rural than urban areas. Physical and Internet bullying also increased in middle school, but dropped off in high school. Verbal bullying rose significantly in middle school and remained elevated in high school. Almost 80% of middle and high school youths reported that they had verbally bullied others.
"These findings suggest bullying prevention programs should begin during elementary school when behavior is emerging," said Ibarra. "Anti-bullying efforts should be stepped up in middle and high school."
Students who reported a sense of belonging in school and said the staff treated them fairly and with respect were significantly less likely to report bullying others. They also told evaluators that bullying occurred less when students trusted teachers and other adults, and felt that the school was responsive to their needs.
ABOUT BULLYING
Bullying is the intentional exclusion of targeted youths in activities, gossiping meanly about others, unprovoked physical and verbal attacks, or using the Internet to anonymously and repeatedly harass others. Reflecting an imbalance of power, the bully can be older, bigger, more verbally adept, higher up on the social ladder, of a different race or of the opposite sex. Sheer numbers of kids banded together to bully also can create this imbalance. At least 19 states – including Colorado – have rules that school districts establish bullying prevention policies and programs.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
The Colorado Trust asked Cadre Colorado, LLC, in collaboration with JVA Consulting, LLC, to determine whether beliefs and behavior about bullying changed over time in schools and community-based organizations funded by the Bullying Prevention Initiative. The evaluation consisted of surveys, in-depth case studies, focus groups, and the analysis of demographic and school achievement data.
The Colorado Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to achieving access to health for all Coloradans.
