A plain-English guide to Rhode Island’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: Rhode Island requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law covers cyberbullying but does not clearly reach off-campus behavior. Follow your district's reporting and investigation steps and keep careful notes.
Rhode Island's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Rhode Island law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (SB 771, June 23, 2025). Rhode Island also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act, H7787, RI General L Section 6-48.1-1 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 18, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 31, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Comprehensive state protections · 13 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior No
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training Yes
- Support for students involved Yes
- School phone rules Statewide phone restriction
- Online safety laws for minors 2 on the books
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.
- State law does not clearly extend to off-campus cyberbullying. Your district policy may still apply, so check it and talk with your administrator.
- The law calls for support for students who are involved. That is core counseling work, for the student targeted and for the student who bullied.
- 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.
- The law names protected groups. Bullying based on these characteristics may also be a civil rights issue for your school.
- Your state limits student phone use at school. Know your school's phone rules so responses to online incidents are consistent.
- Your state has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What Rhode Island’s bullying law includes
- Bans bullying outright: 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: 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: 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: included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
Do Rhode Island anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Rhode Island anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Rhode Island school districts must adopt the statewide bullying policy to ensure a consistent and unified approach to the prohibition of bullying at school. The statewide policy applies to all schools and must contain the following:
- Statements prohibiting bullying, cyber-bullying, and retaliation at school;
- Procedures for reporting, investigations, and response;
- Disciplinary consequences that balance the need for accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior, including a parental engagement strategy and a provision that limits use of suspension;
- Procedures for restoring a sense of safety for the victim and assessing a victim’s need for protection;
- Procedures for notifying the parent and guardians of a victim and a perpetrator, including notification of any actions taken to prevent further acts of bullying or retaliation, and procedures for notifying local law enforcement when criminal charges may be pursued;
- Strategies for protecting from bullying or retaliation a person who reports bullying or who has reliable information about an act of bullying;
- Designation of a principal or designee to be responsible for implementation and oversight of the bullying policy;
- Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district; and
- Strategies for providing counseling or referral to appropriate services being offered by schools or communities.
Do Rhode Island anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Rhode Island anti-bullying laws prohibit bullying that includes, but is not limited to, an incident or incidents that may be reasonably perceived as being motivated by distinguishing characteristics as specified in the Safe Schools Act (see RI Gen L § 16-21-33. (2025)).
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Rhode Island school districts must prevent and respond appropriately to incidents of bullying and must promote nonviolent conflict resolution techniques in order to encourage attitudes and behaviors that foster harmonious relations.
Do Rhode Island anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Rhode Island school districts are required to provide professional development, training, resources, and other means to assist students, staff, and other adults in the school building or at school sponsored activities in carrying out the responsibilities prescribed by the statewide bullying policy.
Do Rhode Island anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Rhode Island anti-bullying laws require districts to provide referrals to appropriate counseling and/or social services currently being offered by schools or communities for bullying victims, perpetrators, and appropriate family members of said students. School district policies must include clear procedures for restoring a sense of safety for a victim and assessing that victim's needs for protection.
Do Rhode Island anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. The Rhode Island statewide bullying policy includes procedures for promptly notifying the parents or guardians of a victim and a perpetrator and about any action taken to prevent further acts of bullying or retaliation. The statewide bullying policy also includes a parent engagement strategy related to disciplining students who bully.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 18, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: SB 771, June 23, 2025.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
These laws mostly place duties on apps, platforms, and websites, such as age checks, parental consent, or limits on addictive feeds. Several have been challenged in court.
- Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act, H7787, RI General L Section 6-48.1-1 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2026 - Artificial Intelligence Companion Models, SB 2195, Chapter 376, Rhode Island General Laws Section 6-64-1 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2027 Applies to: All users
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (6)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Requirements of school safety plans, school emergency response plans, and school crisis response plans Law passed by the legislature Rhode Island General Laws Section 16-21-24 Read the text of Rhode Island General Laws Section 16-21-24
- Safe schools act Law passed by the legislature Rhode Island General Laws Section 16-21-33 Read the text of Rhode Island General Laws Section 16-21-33
- Statewide bullying policy implemented Law passed by the legislature Rhode Island General Laws Section 16-21-34 Read the text of Rhode Island General Laws Section 16-21-34
- Basic Education Program Rule from a state agency 200 Code of Rhode Island Rules 020-10-1 Read the text of 200 Code of Rhode Island Rules 020-10-1
- Safe School Act – Statewide Bullying Policy Rule from a state agency 200 Code of Rhode Island Rules 030-10-2 Read the text of 200 Code of Rhode Island Rules 030-10-2
- School Health Programs Rule from a state agency 216 Code of Rhode Island Rules 020-10-4 Read the text of 216 Code of Rhode Island Rules 020-10-4
Official Rhode Island resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Rhode Island
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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