{"id":354989,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/education\/student-conduct-and-discipline\/specific-state-laws-against-bullying.html"},"modified":"2025-03-27T11:25:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:25:41","slug":"specific-state-laws-against-bullying","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/education\/student-conduct-and-discipline\/specific-state-laws-against-bullying.html","title":{"rendered":"State Law Examples Against Bullying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Specific State Laws Against Bullying<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

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 is repeated aggressive behavior that can occur on school grounds, buses, or through electronic communication, known as cyberbullying, and significantly impacts students’ mental health and learning environment. While there is no federal law directly addressing bullying, federal laws like Title IX and civil rights laws protect students from harassment.<\/blockquote>\r\n

Bullying in schools is a significant issue. This issue affects students’ safety and learning environments across the United States. There are federal laws designed to protect students from discrimination and harassment. Examples of these laws include Title IX and Title VI of the Education Amendments. However, state legislation often governs bullying in schools. Each state has its own set of rules and regulations aimed at preventing bullying. They help ensure that all students can attend school in a safe and supportive setting. This article focuses specifically on these state laws, exploring how they address various forms of bullying.<\/p>\r\n

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

Bullying<\/a> is not just a mean word or a shove on the playground. The definition of bullying usually includes repeated aggressive behavior. This behavior can make the school environment feel unsafe for students. It might happen on school property or on a school bus. It can also occur through electronic communication like texts or social media. This form of bullying is called cyberbullying<\/a>. School bullying affects a student’s mental health and can create a hostile environment. It includes verbal, physical, and social harm intended to hurt or isolate the victim of bullying.<\/p>\r\n

The Role of Federal and State Laws<\/h2>\r\n

There is currently no federal law specifically addressing bullying. But, other federal laws, such as civil rights and nondiscrimination laws, may require schools to intervene with certain types of bullying. Federal laws, like Title IX<\/a> and civil rights laws<\/a>, protect students from bullying based on certain factors. These factors include gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, or being part of any other protected class. The U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights<\/a> enforce these laws. They help ensure that all public school and secondary school students feel safe.<\/p>\r\n

State anti-bullying laws typically define bullying within the state. Each state has passed a law or policy regarding bullying. Although anti-bullying laws vary from state to state<\/a>, they generally focus on listing the specific behaviors that constitute bullying. These behaviors can include teasing, threats, intimidation, stalking, harassment, physical violence, theft, and public humiliation. States may also identify certain characteristics or traits of students who are often targeted for bullying. They can also guide school staff regarding how to address bullying issues.<\/p>\r\n

These laws also require school districts to adopt an anti-bullying policy. These policies help school officials and staff understand how to recognize and stop bullying. School employees, from bus drivers to teachers, are trained to report incidents of bullying. They are also trained to help support the school environment in being a safe place for all students.<\/p>\r\n

Examples of State Anti-Bullying Laws<\/h2>\r\n

Below are some examples of state anti-bullying laws. Because laws are constantly changing, you should check with a local education lawyer<\/a> if you have any questions about your state’s specific bullying laws.<\/p>\r\n