Press Releases

REDWOOD CITY, CA – November 19, 2008

Education.com, a leading web destination for parents of school-aged children, and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the professional organization for school system leaders, today launched a Special Edition on Bullying at School and Online. This powerful resource, created in partnership with Guest Editors Dr. Shelley Hymel and Dr. Susan Swearer, co-directors of the Bullying Research Network, and corporate sponsor Symantec, makers of Norton security software, provides new information and tools to help parents take an active role in addressing bullying.

In creating the Special Edition on Bullying at School and Online, Education.com and AASA worked with contributors from around the world to compile new evidence-based, peer-reviewed content to dispel common myths and empower parents and their children to take effective action against bullying. The result is a collection of over 30 original cutting-edge reference articles, plus video clips, quizzes, online workshops, community forums and quick-fact lists that are all available free-of-charge on the website. A highlight of the content is a list – developed using research findings reported in the Special Edition – of 10 actions parents can take to help address bullying.  The list suggests parents spend time at their child’s school, learn the signs that a child is being bullied, and establish household rules about bullying. The complete list can be found here.

Guest Editor Dr. Shelley Hymel, world-renowned researcher on the subject of bullying and peer victimization, explains the importance of the Special Edition on Bullying, “Bullying robs kids of the chance to make the most of their potential.  The latest research unequivocally shows that bullying has serious and long-term effects not only on victims, but also on children who bully and those who witness bullying, including depression, anxiety, social phobias and even criminal behavior. Equally concerning is the fact that more than half of our children and youth report involvement in bullying as a victim or perpetrator at least on occasion. But there is hope – especially if parents, teachers and administrators work together. In our work together, Education.com, AASA, and Symantec are able to bring parents and educators the very latest research about bullying as well as our best advice about how they can intervene in informed and effective ways. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our children.”

AASA Executive Director Dr. Daniel Domenech explained AASA’s decision to get involved in Education.com’s Special Edition on Bullying at School and Online. “Unfortunately, bullying is something that every administrator in every school in our country faces. No one is immune – kids of every race, gender, grade and socio-economic sector are impacted. We know we can’t solve this problem without the partnership of parents. Bullying at school affects and is affected by what happens at home between siblings, what happens in the neighborhood, and what happens when kids go online. The information and tools in the Special Edition are groundbreaking and we’re thrilled to be involved in making sure they’re distributed to schools and parents nationwide.”

Symantec Internet Safety Advocate Marian Merritt remarked on the company’s sponsorship of the Special Edition on Bullying at School and Online.  “While the Internet is a fantastic resource for school-aged children, unfortunately it’s also a new arena for risky and dangerous behavior, including bullying. Like Education.com, Symantec is committed to giving parents the information they need to educate kids about safe online behavior, and the tools they need to intervene. We’re excited to be part of the Special Edition project which we believe will empower both parents and kids to address the challenging issue of bullying at school and online.”

Education.com’s Special Edition on Bullying at School and Online can be found at http://www.education.com/special-edition/bullying/.

About Education.com

Education.com provides parents of school-aged children free access to information and resources to give them answers they need about raising and educating their children – plus activities designed to make learning together more fun for everyone. Often called “The WebMD of education”, the company has teamed up with leading universities, non-profits, and research organizations to offer highly credible parenting, developmental, and educational information. The site also offers printable activities, discussion boards, access to best-of-breed educational services, and SchoolFinder – a tool that gives parents comprehensive data on the nation’s 125,000 public, private and charter schools. Education.com was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Redwood City, CA. The company is backed by leading venture capital firms, Azure Capital Partners, TeleSoft Partners, and California Technology Ventures. For more information, please visit www.education.com.

About AASA

The American Association of School Administrators, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across the United States. AASA members range from chief executive officers, superintendents and senior-level school administrators to cabinet members, professors and aspiring school system leaders.  AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. AASA’s major focus is standing up for public education. For more information, please visit www.aasa.org.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

About BRNET

BRNET was founded in 2005 by Drs. Susan Swearer and Shelly Hymel and supported by the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (http://cehs.unl.edu) The mission of the Bullying Research Network (BRNET) is to serve as a virtual clearinghouse to support national and international research initiatives in effective bullying prevention and intervention. The central objective is to unite researchers in bullying prevention and intervention in order to further our understanding of the complex social ecology underlying bullying dynamics. BRNET members engage in web-based dialogue about cutting-edge methodologies and strategies, apply for extramural research grants and contracts; implement exemplary, evidence-based models in field settings; and disseminate this information to educators, students, and parents.  For more information, please visit http://brnet.unl.edu

Media Contact:
Kat Eden
Education.com
(650) 366-3380 x2218
pr@education.com