October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and the D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) will host an expert panel to discuss how schools can better prevent and respond to bullying. The discussion will bring together local and national perspectives (including AJE as an expert panelist) to explore effective bullying prevention strategies, current challenges, and opportunities to strengthen D.C.’s anti-bullying policies.

Panelists will also address growing concerns among students and families, including cyberbullying and the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities. Bullying can have serious consequences for a child’s safety, emotional well-being, and ability to learn. For students with disabilities, these challenges can be especially concerning when bullying interferes with their ability to access an appropriate education.

This discussion offers an important opportunity to consider how D.C. schools can better protect students and respond to families’ concerns.

Parents and guardians have an important role in shaping education policy! The D.C. State Board of Education represents the voices of students, families, and communities in discussions about education policies and standards across the District.

Families are encouraged to attend the Board’s monthly public meetings and share their experiences, concerns, and recommendations on issues affecting their children’s education, including bullying, school safety, and special education.

Public testimony is an opportunity to make sure decision-makers hear directly from those most affected by these policies. Parents, students, and community members can sign up to testify at an upcoming public meeting or submit written testimony.

Your voice matters, and sharing your experiences can help create safer, more inclusive schools for all D.C. students.

Attend this panel virtually or in-person on Wednesday, October 21st, 2026, from around 5:30PM to 7:00 PM.

Testifying Sign-Up Information:
DEADLINE: Sign-up must be completed no later than 48 hours in advance of the public meeting.

Public meetings take place on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm at the Marion S. Barry, Jr. Building (441 4th Street NW, Washington D.C., 20001).
Meetings are live-streamed on the District Knowledge Network, which can be accessed online (http://bit.ly/DKNLive) or on Comcast Channel 99, RCN Channel 18, and Fios Channel 12.

All students, parents, educators, and community members are invited to provide testimony at public meetings. If you wish to testify in person or provide written testimony for the upcoming month’s public meeting, please fill out this sign-up form no later than 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Those who miss the deadline will be invited to sign up for the following month’s public meeting.

Link to the form for submitting testimony: here

Written testimony may be submitted at any time to sboe@dc.gov. Individuals are asked to furnish their names, addresses, telephone numbers, and organizational affiliation, if any.

The following link will be helpful to those looking for more information on how and when to testify in Public Meetings, useful tips to know when testifying, and important materials regarding SBOE meetings. Link here!