S. 986 — Safe Schools Improvement Act

This section declares congressional findings on the effects of bullying and harassment, including impairment of students' physical and psychological health, increased dropout rates and absenteeism, academic underachievement, and targeting based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics (including intersex traits), or religion. It also recognizes that schools with anti-bullying policies see increased reporting and reduced incidents; identifies relational aggression and bully-victims needing trauma-informed interventions; and supports evidence-based practices such as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and restorative practices to minimize exclusionary discipline.

This section amends Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)—which provides competitive and formula grants to support safe and healthy students—by adding a new Part G, Safe Schools Improvement (secs. 4701-4706). Part G requires states receiving grants under Title IV to direct local educational agencies (LEAs) to (1) establish anti-bullying and harassment policies prohibiting conduct that limits student participation in school programs/activities or creates a hostile educational environment; (2) expressly prohibit such conduct based on a student's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics including intersex traits), disability, or religion, or those of associated persons, or other state/LEA-defined characteristics; (3) provide annual notice of these policies to students, parents, and educators, along with public grievance procedures including designated officials and resolution timelines; and (4) collect and publicly report anonymized annual incidence data at school and LEA levels. Additionally, Part G directs states to submit biennial reports to the Secretary of Education on LEA data and support plans; requires the Secretary to conduct biennial program evaluations with data collection by the Commissioner for Education Statistics and submit reports to the President and Congress beginning January 1, 2026; clarifies that these requirements supplement (but do not limit) existing federal nondiscrimination laws including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and preserves free speech protections and state/local authority for consistent anti-bullying laws.