ANN ARBOR—Racial, ethnic and sexual harassment remain a significant problem for students in kindergarten through 12th- grade, according to a new University of Michigan report.

The report, “Abolishing Harassment,” is published by the federally funded Programs for Educational Opportunity at the U-M School of Education, which serve educators and parents in the Great Lakes area. Percy Bates, professor of education, is the director.

Single copies of the 36-page publication are available free from Programs for Educational Opportunity, 1005 School of Education, U-M, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1259; telephone (313) 763- 9910; Fax (313) 763-2137.

Program staff members Eleanor Linn, Robert Croninger, Martha Adler, Norma Barquet, Marta Larson, Tasha Lebow and Ted Wilson contributed to the publication, with Linn serving as editor-in- chief.

Among the findings reported in “Abolishing Harassment” are:

–In grades 8 to 11, 68 percent of girls and 39 percent of boys have been touched, grabbed or pinched in a sexual way.

–Just over 40 percent of African-American youth say that racial violence occurs in their schools.

–Between 20 percent and 25 percent of students are victims of racial or ethnic incidents in the course of a school year.

Also included in the publication are tips for parents, the basics of complaint investigation, descriptions of successful harassment prevention programs and resources to help eradicate harassment of all kinds at home and at school.