New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office recently released a latest analysis report indicating a continuous upward trend in bullying and drug-related incidents on school campuses throughout the state. This data, spanning seven years from the New York State Education Department, has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, sparking concerns about student mental health and campus safety environment.
The report analyzed notification data from the School Safety and Educational Climate (SSEC) system of the New York State Education Department from 2017 to 2024, covering all public schools in the state.
According to the report, in the 2023-2024 academic year, bullying incidents accounted for approximately 62% of all safety incidents reported on campuses statewide, totaling over 29,000 cases, making it the most common type of campus issue. These incidents include verbal bullying, physical bullying, and cyberbullying.
Comptroller DiNapoli stated that the persistent high rates of bullying incidents demonstrate the serious challenges schools face in student behavior management and psychological support.
In addition to bullying, drug-related incidents are also on the rise. These incidents involve students possessing, using, or selling illegal drugs. The Comptroller pointed out that the data indicates that the drug problem on campuses has not subsided post-pandemic, but rather intertwined with student psychological stress and behavioral issues, becoming a major concern for campus management.
The report also noted that incidents of campus violence involving weapons or causing serious bodily harm overall remain at relatively low levels and have not shown the same magnitude of increase as bullying and drug-related incidents.
DiNapoli believes that this reflects a change in the risk profile of campus safety, more prominently in the areas of behavioral issues, mental health, and campus atmosphere, rather than in traditional violent crime terms.
He urged schools and districts in the report to continue improving the campus incident reporting mechanisms to ensure accurate and consistent data while enhancing anti-bullying measures, drug prevention education, and investment in student mental health resources to prevent further deterioration of issues.