Bayville Teen's Death Inspires Amendment To Parents Bill Of Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives unanimously passed an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act that would help in incidents like what happened to Central Regional student Adriana Kuch.

Before the 14-year-old took her own life, she was attacked by several other students in school. This attack was filmed and spread via social media.

Rep. Chris Smith proposed an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which now moves to the Senate, that would require school officials to notify parents of any video recordings of violent incidents that occur at school.

“Adriana’s family told the Asbury Park Press that she ‘took her own life after being threatened online, attacked on school grounds, and later harassed when video of the attack was spread via social media,’” said Smith.

“My amendment recognizes that bullying and violence are often compounded—and the victim further traumatized, further humiliated, and further mocked—when the crime is videotaped and shared on social media,” he said.

Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato and the Township Council implored legislators to enact a law like this to protect students like Kuch. The idea was first brought to Amato's attention by resident Amanda Scheuermann, an advocate for "Adriana's Law." Read more: 'Adriana's Law' Needed To Keep Schools Safe, Berkeley Officials Say

“We must continue to do everything we can to better protect our kids,” Amato said. “Congressman Smith’s important amendment will give parents added information about violence and bullying in schools and allow parents to make the best decisions to protect their children.”

Smith said that this amendment was a step in the right direction of what must be a full-court press to tackle online bullying at the federal, state and local levels. He said there must be zero tolerance for bullying in schools and in the community.

“What happened at Central Regional High School must never happen again,” Smith said. “There must be no higher priority for us than school safety and protecting every student from violence.”

Additional Coverage

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Long History Of Bullying At Central Regional, Students Say

No 'Culture Of Violence' At Central, Acting Superintendent Says