According to school officials, the recently implemented Hillsborough County school district's online bullying reporting system has been a success. Nearly 400 reports of alleged bullying were lodged anonymously between the start of school in August and the end of April. The schools handled the punishments, which included reprimands, counseling and expulsions.

School administrators started the system in response to a state law that went into effect in 2008 following the suicide of a student in Naples who had been harassed online. The system has become an easy way for parents and principals to communicate.

The district next plans to address the texting and sexting problem.

Source: Bullying reporting system connects parents, schools, Tampa Bay Online, June 11, 2010

Tags: Florida, cyberbullying, sexting