The 74 reports that 11 parents have filed a lawsuit alleging that the New York City Department of Education has shown "deliberate indifference" toward violence in schools. Abuse from teachers and students alike is cited in the suit. More families are expected to be added as plaintiffs in the near future.

The families aren't seeking any monetary damages, just reforms that will force the hand of a Department of Education they see as complacent on bullying. The suit is backed by Families for Excellent Schools, a pro-charter school organization.

"The Department of Education is systematically failing at a staggering level to follow procedures mandated by state law to protect New York City's children, keep them safe and keep them loved," said Jeremiah Kittredge, CEO of Families for Excellent Schools. The suit says the school district's neglect violates their right to a free education. It also cites the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, with plaintiffs claiming the abuse disproportionately affects minority students.

The city responded to the suit with NYPD data showing a decrease in crime in schools. "When we look at the facts, (the School Safety Division) is doing a very good job continuing a trend that started in the last administration and continues — this year to date, the major crime in our schools is down 14.29 percent and other crimes down 6.77 percent," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

But according to a 2015 state Comptroller audit, about one-third of violent incidents in schools went unreported. The audit looked at only 10 schools, though. Differences in state and city violence reporting systems create a gap in official figures of school violence. While the city reports a decline in school violence, the state says there was a 23 percent increase from the school year ending in 2014 to the school year ending in 2015.

Erica Medina, one of the parent plaintiffs, says her first-grade son was yanked down a flight of stairs by a teacher, leaving bruises on his back. The teacher wasn't punished, until they were later arrested for throwing a seven-year-old across a hallway. "Aside from the bullying of student-on-student," Medina said, "everyone is missing the bullying against teacher-on-student as well. It's something that has to be fixed."

Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.