{"id":354972,"date":"2016-04-04T11:01:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/education\/student-conduct-and-discipline\/bullying-and-the-law.html"},"modified":"2023-10-19T12:37:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T17:37:27","slug":"bullying-and-the-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/education\/student-conduct-and-discipline\/bullying-and-the-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Bullying and the Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Bullying and the Law<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Bullying can have a profound impact on the lives of school students. It can affect not only their mental health but also their academic performance. Several laws and policies help prevent bullying<\/a> and protect students’ civil rights. Bullying has become a national epidemic among school-aged children in America. It is a major concern to most schools today.<\/p>\r\n

Because bullying can take many forms, it can go unnoticed by teachers and parents. With social media and the internet, cyberbullying<\/a> has increased as well. Bullying on school campuses can escalate to serious violence and harm. Educators and parents need to understand what bullying is. They should also know how to help prevent it.<\/p>\r\n

This section provides an overview of bullying.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Bullying?<\/h2>\r\n

Bullying is a repeated and intentional act of causing harm to others. Bullying is a term that refers to verbal, physical, or psychological attacks by a student on another child. The student might intend to harass, intimidate, or cause physical harm to them. It can take place anywhere. Bullying can happen on school property or during school-sponsored events. It can also happen online through electronic communication at any time.<\/p>\r\n

Bullying can occur in these different forms:<\/p>\r\n

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  1. Physical bullying: Involves actions such as hitting, pushing, or damaging a student’s property. This can happen anywhere, from the classroom to the school bus.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Verbal bullying: Involves the use of words to belittle or demean others. This includes name-calling or teasing based on certain attributes. Examples of these attributes include gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.<\/li>\r\n
  3. Cyberbullying<\/a>: Involves electronic communication<\/a>, including social media, texting, or email. It causes extra concern since it can follow students outside the school environment.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Bullying can also take the form of sexual harassment<\/a> or hazing<\/a>. School officials must investigate any reported incident. Local laws can impose sanctions.<\/p>\r\n

    Are There Laws Against Bullying?<\/h2>\r\n

    Yes. Many jurisdictions have passed state laws to prevent bullying in schools. States across the U.S. have enacted specific anti-bullying laws<\/a>. These laws force school districts to develop and install comprehensive bullying prevention policies. This might encompass student conduct guidelines for professional development for the school staff.<\/p>\r\n

    These state laws often mandate regular reporting of bullying incidents. They might also outline clear procedures for investigating reports. The laws might demand schools to take appropriate disciplinary action to ensure school safety.<\/p>\r\n

    Examples of specific behavior that these laws generally construe as bullying include:<\/p>\r\n