U.S. Department of Education Senior Official to Address Bullying at National Educator Conference in San Diego

Michael Yudin, acting assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, will give remarks at the fourth annual National Educator Conference in San Diego. He will discuss bullying, particularly among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and ally (LGBTQIA) youths. Yudin also will address what school communities can do to better support this group of students.

The theme of this year’s three-day conference is “Supporting Students - Saving Lives.” The conference, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership, will bring together education leaders and LGBT experts to empower educators with knowledge and teach them the skills necessary to create safe, welcoming and inclusive school environments for all youths, regardless of their sexual orientation. According to recent data, eight out of 10 LGBT students are harassed at school and have a dropout rate nearly three times the national average.