A plain-English guide to Pennsylvania’s bullying and cyberbullying law, written for school counselors and other school staff. Start with the summary, then open any section below for the legal details.
Bottom line for counselors: Pennsylvania requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law covers cyberbullying, including off-campus behavior that affects school. Follow your district's reporting and investigation steps and keep careful notes.
Pennsylvania's bullying law includes 10 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates moderate. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Pennsylvania law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (SB 1014, October 26, 2026).
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 18, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Moderate state protections · 10 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior Yes
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training Yes
- Support for students involved No
- School phone rules Statewide phone restriction
- Online safety laws for minors None listed
What this means for counselors
- Your district is required to have a written bullying policy. Find it, and learn who in your building receives reports.
- State law sets expectations for reporting and investigating bullying. Follow your district's steps and timelines, and keep careful notes.
- Cyberbullying that happens off campus can be addressed when it affects school. Record how the online behavior reached or disrupted school.
- Staff training is part of state law. Ask when training happens and make sure it covers cyberbullying and social media.
- Prevention education is expected. Classroom lessons on digital citizenship and online empathy fit here.
- State law does not spell out a role for parents, so building partnerships with families is up to your school.
- Your state limits student phone use at school. Know your school's phone rules so responses to online incidents are consistent.
What Pennsylvania’s bullying law includes
- Bans bullying outright: not included
The law clearly states that bullying is not allowed. - Defines bullying: included
The law spells out what counts as bullying. - Says where the rules apply: included
The law describes where the rules apply, such as school grounds, buses, events, or online. - Names protected groups: not included
The law lists characteristics, such as race or disability, that bullying often targets. - Districts must have a policy: included
Every school district has to adopt a written bullying policy. - Reporting and investigation rules: included
The law sets out how bullying is reported and investigated. - Consequences for bullying: included
The law describes consequences for students who bully. - Policy shared with families: included
Districts have to tell students, staff, and families about the policy. - Support for students involved: not included
The law calls for protection or support, such as counseling, for students who are involved. - Policies reviewed and updated: included
District policies have to be reviewed and kept up to date. - Prevention education: included
The law requires or encourages bullying prevention lessons or programs. - Staff training: included
The law requires or encourages training for teachers and other staff. - Parent involvement: not included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
“Bullying” shall mean an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, or a series of acts:
(1) directed at another student or students;
(2) which occurs in a school setting;
(3) that is severe, persistent, or pervasive; and
(4) that has the effect of doing any of the following:
(i) substantially interfering with a student’s education;
(ii) creating a threatening environment; or
(iii) substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
24 Pa. Stat. § 13-1303.1-A (2008)
Do Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws state that a school entity shall not be prohibited from defining bullying in such a way as to encompass acts that occur outside a school setting if those acts meet the requirements contained in the bullying definition in state law.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Pennsylvania school districts must adopt a policy or amend existing policies related to bullying and must incorporate the policy in the school entity’s code of conduct. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Definitions of bullying;
- Disciplinary consequences for violation of the policy;
- Designation of an appropriate school staff person to receive reports of incidents of alleged bullying;
- Procedures for reporting bullying incidents; and
- Requirements regarding how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws require school districts to review bullying policies every three years and annually provide the Office for Safe Schools with a copy of the policy, including information related to the development and implementation of any bullying prevention, intervention, and education programs. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws also require districts to report to the Office of Safe Schools all incidents that qualify as bullying under the school district’s adopted definition of the term and that meet requirements for state reporting.
Do Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Pennsylvania schools that receive federal funding are required by federal law to address discrimination based on certain personal characteristics. Find out when bullying may be a civil rights violation.
Do Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws encourage districts to provide for prevention, intervention, and education programs in school bullying policies. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws also direct the state Office for Safe Schools to make targeted grants to school entities to fund the development and implementation of research-based violence prevention programs that address risk factors to reduce incidents of problem behaviors among students including, but not limited to, bullying. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws also require each school entity to appoint a school safety and security coordinator who is responsible for coordinating training and resources for students and school entity staff in matters relating to bullying awareness.
Do Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws require school entities to provide employees with mandatory training on school safety and security including training addressing suicide and bullying awareness.
Do Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
No. Pennsylvania anti-bullying laws do not create expectations for parent involvement in addressing bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 18, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: SB 1014, October 26, 2026.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
No state online safety laws for minors are listed for Pennsylvania in the tracker we use. Federal laws, such as COPPA and the TAKE IT DOWN Act, still apply everywhere.
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker.
Legal citations, explained (17)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Office for Safe Schools Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1302-A Read the text of Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1302-A
- Reporting Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1303-A Read the text of Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1303-A
- Policy relating to bullying Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1303.1-A Read the text of Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1303.1-A
- School safety and security grant program Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1306-B Read the text of Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1306-B
- School safety and security coordinator Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1309-B Read the text of Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1309-B
- School safety and security training Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1310-B Read the text of Pennsylvania Statute 24 Section 13-1310-B
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2801 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2801
- Hazing Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2802 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2802
- Aggregated hazing Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2803 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2803
- Organizational hazing Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2804 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2804
- Institutional hazing Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2805 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2805
- Defenses prohibited Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2806 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2806
- Forfeiture Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2807 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2807
- Enforcement by institution or secondary school Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2808 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2808
- Institutional reports Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2809 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2809
- Safe harbor Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2810 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2810
- Civil remedies Law passed by the legislature Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2811 Read the text of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute 18 Section 2811
Official Pennsylvania resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Pennsylvania
Search by ZIP code, select a district on the map, or look one up by name. Each district links to a search for its own bullying policy, since district rules can go further than state law.
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