A plain-English guide to Washington’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: Washington 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.
Washington's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Washington law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: encourages districts to limit cellphones in classrooms (district guidance, September 6, 2024).
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 12, 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 State encourages limits
- 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.
- 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.
What Washington’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
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of harassment, intimidation, and bullying:
“Harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act including, but not limited to, one shown to be motivated by any characteristic in RCW 28A.640.010 and 28A.642.010, or other distinguishing characteristics, when the intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act:
- Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property;
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education;
- Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
“Electronic” means any communication where there is the transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable, electromagnetic, or other similar means.
Wash. Rev. Code (ARCW) § 28A.600.477 (2019)
Do Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Washington anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Washington school districts must adopt or amend a policy and procedure prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student that incorporates the model policy and procedure developed by the state. School district policies and procedures must contain key policy and procedural elements including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying and statements of scope indicating where and when the policy applies;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior;
- Strategies to prevent harassment, intimidation, and bullying, including policy dissemination, education, staff training, and implementation of individual, classroom, school, and district-level prevention approaches;
- Designation of a compliance officer who serves as the primary contact for harassment, intimidation, and bullying;
- Requirements for immediate staff intervention;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations;
- Disciplinary consequences and corrective actions for a student who commits an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
- Supports for the targeted student;
- Lists of other resources and related policies and procedures; and
- Requirements for how school districts must community the district’s harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy and procedure to parents, students, employees, and volunteers.
Washington anti-bullying laws require districts to provide the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with a brief summary of policies, procedures, programs, partnerships, vendors, and instructional and training materials to be publicly posted, and must provide a link to the school district’s website for further information.
Do Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Washington anti-bullying laws prohibit harassment, intimidation, or bullying behavior that includes but is not limited to behavior shown to be motivated by distinguishing characteristics (see WAC 392-190-005).
Washington 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 Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Washington school districts must implement a range of prevention strategies including individual, classroom, school, and district-level approaches. Districts are encouraged to implement evidence-based prevention programs that are designed to increase social competency, improve school climate, and eliminate harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools.
Do Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Washington school districts must adopt the state model procedure, which requires that all staff receive annual training on the school district's policy and procedure, including staff roles and responsibilities, how to monitor common areas, and the use of the district's Incident Reporting Form. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must post on its web site training and instructional materials on the components that must be included in any school district policy and procedure. Washington anti-bullying laws also require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a statewide training class for individuals in each district who act as the primary contact regarding the policy and procedure prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying. The training class must be offered annually.
Do Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Washington school districts must provide appropriate district support services to students who have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, or bullying and must address and remedy, as appropriate, the adverse impact of the harassment on the student. Washington school districts must also adopt a plan for recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students. Plans may be separate or may be a component of another district plan or policy, such as the harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention policy.
Do Washington anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Washington anti-bullying laws encourage districts to adopt and update the policy and procedure prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying through a process that includes representation of parents or guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community representatives.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 12, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Encourages districts to limit cellphones in classrooms. Most recent statewide action: district guidance, September 6, 2024.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
No state online safety laws for minors are listed for Washington 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 (18)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Collection and submittal of student-level data –Student data-related reports—Disaggregation of data by subgroups—Modification of statewide student data systems Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.300.042 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.300.042
- School bullying and harassment – Work g roup Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.300.2851 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.300.2851
- Social-emotional learning resources Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.300.479 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.300.479
- Plan for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students, including possible sexual abuse Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.320.127 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.320.127
- Washington professional educator standards board—Performance standards—Certification levels—Teacher effectiveness evaluations—Requirements for professional certificate and residency teaching certificate—Demonstration of educator preparation programs' outcomes Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.410.270 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.410.270
- Training in children's mental health topics—Required use of one professional learning day every other year Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.415.445 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.415.445
- Student expression in school-sponsored media Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.600.027 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.600.027
- Prohibition of harassment, intimidation, and bullying Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.600.477 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.600.477
- Reporting of harassment, intimidation, or bullying—Retaliation prohibited—Immunity Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.600.480 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.600.480
- Discrimination prohibited — Definitions Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.642.010 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.642.010
- Transgender student policy and procedure Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 28A.642.080 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 28A.642.080
- Public school antiharassment policies and strategies – lead agency Law passed by the legislature Washington Revised Code Section 43.06B.060 Read the text of Washington Revised Code Section 43.06B.060
- Harassment Rule from a state agency Washington Administrative Code Section 162-32-040 Read the text of Washington Administrative Code Section 162-32-040
- School district requirements Rule from a state agency Washington Administrative Code Section 392-145-011 Read the text of Washington Administrative Code Section 392-145-011
- Harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention policy and procedure – School districts Rule from a state agency Washington Administrative Code Section 392-190-059 Read the text of Washington Administrative Code Section 392-190-059
- Authority Rule from a state agency Washington Administrative Code Section 392-405-005 Read the text of Washington Administrative Code Section 392-405-005
- Purpose Rule from a state agency Washington Administrative Code Section 392-405-010 Read the text of Washington Administrative Code Section 392-405-010
- School district rules defining harassment, intimidation and bullying prevention policies and procedures—Distribution of rules Rule from a state agency Washington Administrative Code Section 392-405-020 Read the text of Washington Administrative Code Section 392-405-020
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Washington
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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