Study: Bullying persists in school, reports of sex crime up

WASHINGTON (AP) – A new study shows that 1 out of every 5 middle and high school students has complained of being bullied at school. And the number of reports of sexual assault on college campuses has more than tripled over the past decade.

The study by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Justice Department released May 16 says that overall instances of bullying have been declining in American schools over the past decade. But 21 percent of students aged 12-18 still reported being bullied in 2015. That’s slightly below the international average.

The picture was bleaker for gay, lesbian and bisexual students. The study said 34 percent of students who identified as LGB complained of bullying, compared to 19 percent who identified as heterosexual. Students were not asked whether they identified as transgender.

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