The California Constitution guarantees California children the right to attend public schools that are safe, secure, and peaceful. Sadly, 1 in 3 students say they’ve been bullied. Bullying is known to severely impact children. It can significantly affect a victim’s grades, emotional well-being and physical health. In extreme and unfortunate circumstances, it can end in physical harm, including suicide, mass shootings, and murder.

Bullying means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct directed at one or more pupils that causes fear of harm, adverse impacts on physical and mental well-being, interference with academic performance, and interference with school activities or privileges. A form of bullying includes cyberbullying, which is when a person uses technology to demean, inflict harm, frighten, embarrass, harass, or cause pain. Cyberbullying can include direct attacks (hurtful messages sent directly to the target, even anonymously or through fake accounts), indirect attacks or campaigns (messages or pages dedicated to spreading hateful messages about the victim), and invasions of privacy (sharing a victim’s personal information with others). Cyberstalking is also a form of cyberbullying, in which someone willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person and makes a credible threat with the intent to instill reasonable fear for the person’s safety or the safety of their family.

Thankfully, California has strict anti-bullying laws. California school districts are required to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying and procedures for preventing acts of bullying and cyberbullying. More importantly, schools must have a consistent and clear process in place for investigating allegations of bullying. Schools are not permitted to disregard or ignore bullying. Staff members who witness any sort of bullying have a duty to try to stop it.

It is important that parents and family members know the laws implemented to protect the students. If your loved one has suffered as a result of school bullying, contact us to know your rights.