A plain-English guide to Vermont’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: Vermont 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.
Vermont's bullying law includes 12 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Vermont law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (HB 480, June 27, 2025). Vermont also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act S.69, 9 V.S.A.Section 2449f,.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 12, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated July 1, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Strong state protections · 12 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 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.
- 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.
- The law names protected groups. Bullying based on these characteristics may also be a civil rights issue for your school.
- 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.
- Your state has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What Vermont’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: 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
Do Vermont anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Vermont anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct that does not occur during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity and can be shown to pose a clear and substantial interference with another student's right to access educational programs.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Vermont school districts are required to adopt separate policies addressing harassment, hazing, and bullying prevention. School district bullying prevention policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting bullying as defined in state law;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations;
- Descriptions of the circumstances under which bullying may be reported to a law enforcement agency;
- Disciplinary consequences and appropriate remedial actions for students who commit bullying;
- Descriptions of how the school board will ensure that teachers and other staff members receive training in preventing, recognizing, and responding to bullying; and
- Designation of two or more people at each school campus to receive bullying complaints.
Vermont anti-bullying laws state that any school board that fails to adopt one or more of the prescribe policies shall be presumed to have adopted the most current model policy or policies published by the Secretary.
Do Vermont anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Vermont anti-bullying laws prohibit harassment that is based on or motivated by a student's or a student's family member's actual or perceived characteristic (see 16 V.S.A. § 11 (26)(A)).
Vermont 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 Vermont anti-bullying laws and regulations require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Vermont anti-bullying laws require school boards to use discretion in developing and initiating age-appropriate programs to inform students about the substance of the bullying prevention policy and procedures to help prevent harassment, hazing, and bullying. School boards are encouraged to foster opportunities for conversations between and among students regarding tolerance and respect. Vermont school districts are also required to adopt a continuous quality improvement plan that includes strategies and supports to ensure the school maintains a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment which is free from harassment, hazing and bullying.
Do Vermont anti-bullying laws and regulations require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Vermont school district policies must include a description of how the school board will ensure that teachers and other staff members receive training in preventing, recognizing, and responding to bullying.
Do Vermont anti-bullying laws and regulations require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. The Vermont state policy on prevention of harassment, hazing, and bullying of students requires that school superintendents take prompt and appropriate remedial action on substantiated complaints that are calculated to stop the hazing, harassment, or bullying; prevent its recurrence; and remedy the impact of the offending conduct on the victim(s), where appropriate.
Do Vermont anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Vermont anti-bullying laws require that schools, through a process including parents, teachers, students, and community members, develop, implement, and annually update a continuous improvement plan to improve student performance that includes efforts to ensure the school maintains a safe, orderly, civil, and positive learning environment that is free from harassment, hazing, and bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 12, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: HB 480, June 27, 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.
- Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act S.69, 9 V.S.A.Section 2449f,
In effect: January 1, 2027 - Vermont Data Privacy and Online Surveillance Act, S. 71, Public Act No. 145, 9 V.S.A Section 2415a et eq.
In effect: January 1, 2028
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated July 1, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (14)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Classifications and definitions Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 11 Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 11
- State Board; general powers and duties Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 164 Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 164
- Education quality standards; equal educational opportunities; independent school meeting education quality standards Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 165 Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 165
- Harassment, hazing, and bullying prevention policies Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570 Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570
- Harassment Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570a Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570a
- Hazing Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570b Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570b
- Bullying Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570c Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570c
- Harassment; notice and response Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570f Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570f
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570i Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570i
- Unlawful conduct Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570j Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570j
- Civil penalty; Judicial Bureau; waiver penalty Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570k Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570k
- Criminal prosecution and civil action Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570l Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 570l
- Discipline Law passed by the legislature Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 1161a Read the text of Vermont Statute Annotated Title 16, Section 1161a
- State Board Rule 2000 Education Quality Standards Rule from a state agency Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-003 Read the text of Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-003
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Vermont
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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