Academic
Performance and College Aspirations Suffer When Harassment Goes
Unchecked
New York, NY – December 8, 2003 – The Gay, Lesbian
and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, today announced the
release of the 2003 National School Climate Survey. For the first
time, the bi-annual study reports a direct relationship between
in-school victimization, grade-point averages (GPAs) and the college
aspirations of LGBT students. At the same time, more than 4 out
of 5 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students report
being verbally, sexually or physically harassed at school because
of their sexual orientation.
“This year’s findings clearly demonstrate that despite
modest measurable gains, violence, bias and harassment of LGBT
students continues to be the rule, not the exception, in America’s
schools,” said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings.
“This research reveals what must be inherent to so many
educators and parents: harassment has a negative impact on LGBT
students’ academic performance and college ambitions. To
ignore these numbers is an irresponsible message to all students
that any promise of equal access to education remains forged and
fictitious.”
Key findings of the 2003 National School Climate Survey include:
· Unchecked harassment correlates with poor performance
and diminished aspirations: LGBT youth who report significant
verbal harassment are twice as likely to report they do not intend
to go to college and their GPAs are significantly lower (2.9 vs.
3.3).
· Supportive teachers can make a difference: 24.1% of
LGBT students who cannot identify supportive faculty report they
have no intention of going to college. That figure drops to just
10.1% when LGBT students can identify supportive staff at their
school.
· Policymakers have an opportunity to improve school climates:
LGBT students who did not have (or did not know of) a policy protecting
them from violence and harassment were nearly 40% more likely
to skip school because they were simply too afraid to go.
· Harassment continues at unacceptable levels and is too
often ignored: 84% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed
because of their sexual orientation. 82.9% of students report
that faculty never or rarely intervene when present.
“These numbers are a wake-up call – and a direct
challenge – to the 41 states that so far remain without
policies that explicitly protect LGBT students. We know that such
policies, when fully implemented, are having a positive impact,”
continued Jennings. “GLSEN continues to lead efforts to
institute and implement policies that work, promote successful
in-school programs, and empower our nation’s educators with
tools and knowledge that will lead to safe and effective classrooms
for all students.”
GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey is the only national
survey to document the experiences of LGBT students in America’s
schools and has been conducted bi-annually since 1999. This year’s
survey includes responses from 887 LGBT middle and high school
students from 48 states and the District of Columbia. Key findings,
the complete survey and additional information about methodology
and demographics may be obtained by calling GLSEN’s Communications
Department at 212-727-0135 or by visiting www.glsen.org.
About GLSEN
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is
the leading national education organization focused on ensuring
safe schools for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which
every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless
of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more
information on GLSEN’s educational resources, public policy
agenda, student organizing programs or development initiatives,
visit www.glsen.org.
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