Keywords: New York City, schools, bullying, harassment, intimidation, nationality, orientation, religion, gender, NYC schools

New York City public-school students who fall victim to harassment, intimidation or bullying based on bias now have new methods to report such incidents to school administrators, a report in The New York Times reveals. Schools Chancellor Joel L. Klein announced the new regulations, which are "intended to prevent bullying based on a student's ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability."

As part of the new program, school principals are required to appoint a member of the faculty to whom students can report bullying and harassment episodes. Additionally, Klein announced an e-mail address that has been set up in case students are concerned about speaking personally to an administrator. Schools will also have to report all incidents to the chancellor's office within 24 hours--and all staff members will be required to report all bullying incidents to school administrators.

Numerous city-based civic organizations have lauded the new program.

Click here to read the full story in The New York Times.