The following information was sent to us by DC Public Schools:

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) welcomed back thousands of students across the city for the 2012-2013 school year that started on August 27th.  While official enrollment numbers won’t be available until later this fall, DCPS is on track for a positive and productive year that will include modernized facilities across the district, new math standards and curriculum, innovation and technology and improved instruction. These improvements and efforts all come under the strategic direction of A Capital Commitment, DCPS’ five-year, bold plan to improve the school district.

Over the next few weeks, roughly 79 million students will head back to schools around the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. When the school year resumes, so too will the perpetual cycle of students missing days of school because they fear bullying. Each day, it is estimated that 160,000 students stay home from school to avoid being bullied.

“The first step in preventing bullying is to realize that we all share common traits and we all need to feel safe, accepted, and liked for who we are,” explains Peter J. Goodman, author of the book “We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats.” “One of the main themes in my book is tolerance, because it is crucial, especially when we live in such a diverse world.”