A new report “Violent and Disruptive Incidents and Bullying in New York Schools,” unveiled by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli states bullying and drug-related incidents statewide are on the rise, even exceeding pre-pandemic highs, while the rates for the number of serious violent and disruptive incidents remained near zero even after students returned to in-school instruction, and have stayed low.
This depicts a prominent disconnect, revealing the system may risk measuring safety based on definitions rather than students’ real-time experiences.
The comptroller’s analysis of seven years of School Safety and Educational Climate data from the State Education Department states the most frequently reported school safety incident is bullying.
Almost 30,000 bullying incidents were reported, meaning 12.4 incidents per 1,000 pupils in the 2023-24 school year.
“The district’s top priority is to provide a safe, secure and inclusive environment for all students,” West Hempstead Superintendent Daniel Rehman said in a statement. “We carefully track all reported incidents of bullying and disruptive behavior in accordance with New York State Education Department guidelines. We use this data to monitor patterns, respond promptly and implement targeted supports where needed.”
Cyber bullying remains low in data, though it is more difficult to locate due to the anonymity of off-campus media platforms. The report actually acknowledges that many of these incidents likely go unreported. The question is not whether bullying occurs, but whether schools are accurately aware of those incidents.
Similarly, for drug-related incidents, remote learning helped the statistic drop, though secondary schools have risen above pre-Covid levels. Statewide rates went up from 4.2 to 6.5 incidents per 1,000 students in 2023-24, compared to 2017-18.
While these troubling trends are rising, reports of extremely violent and disruptive incidents — such as assault, sexual offenses, and weapons possession — have plummeted. The implication is that the culture hasn’t dramatically changed, but that the new reporting definitions implemented in 2021-22 have limited potential incident reports.
“The Malverne school district is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environments for all students,” Malverne Superintendent Maria Rianna said in a statement. “Our reported incidents remain low and consistent with our internal data, which we monitor closely in alignment with New York State requirements. Since returning to full in-person instruction, we have continued to address both school-based and digital behavior proactively.”
The new qualifications include that incidents must be due to an offender that is at least 10 years old, has to meet felony criteria, and has been presented to law enforcement.
The data may be technically accurate by state rules, but the results may be misleading if taken at face value, assuming no other incidents have occurred, as they were not reported.
Limited cell phone use during the school day is a step toward protecting students, reducing in-school distractions and platforms for conflict. Schools must pay close attention to student life in order to address these real problems.
“The statewide school cell phone ban has helped reduce distractions and minimize potential opportunities for real-time social media conflicts,” Rehman said. “This has allowed our students to focus more fully on learning and positive peer interactions.”
“Limiting cell phone use during the school day has supported improved focus and reduced opportunities for immediate online conflict,” echoed Rianna. “We remain steadfast in our position that bullying and disruptive behavior have no place in our schools and will continue to prioritize prevention, education and student well-being.”
