Schools are required by the state Department of Education to report incidents that endanger the safety of students. The Safe Schools report includes a list of 50 infractions, ranging from aggravated assault to possession of tobacco. Bullying falls at about the midpoint on the list.

The Department of Education's definition of bullying includes "an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, or a series of acts."Here are numbers of bullying incidents at schools in the Times News coverage area in 2006-2007, then in 2012-2013, according to the Safe Schools reports. We decided to include a 10-year time frame with a mid-point. To check all the years, visit

www.safeschools.state.pa.us. Click on the school safety tab on the left.1999-2000:No schools listed any bullying incidents.2006-2007:Carbon Career and Technical Institute - 0Jim Thorpe Area School District - 6Lehighton Area School District - 1Northern Lehigh School District - 13Northampton Area School District - 0Panther Valley school District - 0Palmerton Area School District - 0Pleasant Valley School District - 0Tamaqua Area School District - 2Weatherly Area School District - 02012-2013:Carbon Career and Technical Institute - 0Jim Thorpe Area School District - 0Lehighton Area School District - 0Northern Lehigh School District - 0Northampton Area School District - 1Panther Valley School District - 3Palmerton Area School District - 2Pleasant Valley School District - 6Tamaqua Area School District -13Weatherly Area School District - 0