A plain-English guide to Wisconsin’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: Wisconsin requires every school district to have a written bullying policy. The law does not name cyberbullying, though district policies may still cover it. Follow your district's reporting and investigation steps and keep careful notes.
Wisconsin's bullying law includes 8 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates moderate. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Wisconsin law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (AB 2, October 31, 2025).
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 12, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Moderate state protections · 8 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying No
- Reaches off-campus behavior No
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training No
- 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.
- State law does not clearly extend to off-campus cyberbullying. Your district policy may still apply, so check it and talk with your administrator.
- State law does not require staff training, so counselors can lead that work by offering short trainings on cyberbullying for colleagues.
- Prevention education is expected. Classroom lessons on digital citizenship and online empathy fit here.
- Your state limits student phone use at school. Know your school's phone rules so responses to online incidents are consistent.
What Wisconsin’s bullying law includes
- Bans bullying outright: included
The law clearly states that bullying is not allowed. - Defines bullying: not 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: not 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: not 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 Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Wisconsin anti-bullying laws do not include definitions of prohibited behavior.
Do Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Wisconsin anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Wisconsin anti-bullying laws require districts to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying by pupils. Wisconsin anti-bullying laws do not specify content of bullying policies, although districts may adopt a model bullying policy developed by the department of education. Wisconsin school districts must distribute copies of the policy annually to all pupils enrolled in the school district and to their parents or guardians and must provide a copy of the policy upon request.
Do Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Wisconsin anti-bullying laws or regulations. Wisconsin state regulations do list specific groups in separate non-discrimination policies that define "pupil harassment" as behavior towards pupils based, in whole or in part, on certain personal characteristics (see PI 9.01) which substantially interferes with a pupil's school performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive school environment.
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Wisconsin anti-bullying laws direct the Department of Public Instruction to develop a model education and awareness program on bullying and to post the model program on its website. Wisconsin anti-bullying laws designate the Wednesday of the 4th week in September as Bullying Awareness Day. Wisconsin state law also authorizes the state superintendent to award grants to nonprofit organizations to provide training and an online bullying prevention curriculum for pupils in grades kindergarten to 8.
Do Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
No. Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations do not require districts to train teachers and other staff on how to respond to bullying incidents.
Do Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Wisconsin anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Wisconsin anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Wisconsin's model school policy on bullying must a requirement to notify the parent or guardian of each pupil involved in bullying incident. The model school policy may or may not be adopted by Wisconsin school districts.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 12, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: AB 2, October 31, 2025.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
No state online safety laws for minors are listed for Wisconsin 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 (14)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Public instruction, department of Law passed by the legislature Wisconsin Statute Section 20.255 Read the text of Wisconsin Statute Section 20.255
- General duties Law passed by the legislature Wisconsin Statute Section 115.28 Read the text of Wisconsin Statute Section 115.28
- Special observance days Law passed by the legislature Wisconsin Statute Section 118.02 Read the text of Wisconsin Statute Section 118.02
- Policy on bullying Law passed by the legislature Wisconsin Statute Section 118.46 Read the text of Wisconsin Statute Section 118.46
- Full-time open enrollment Law passed by the legislature Wisconsin Statute Section 118.51 Read the text of Wisconsin Statute Section 118.51
- Hazing Law passed by the legislature Wisconsin Statute Section 948.51 Read the text of Wisconsin Statute Section 948.51
- Discrimination prohibited Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.01 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.01
- Definitions Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.02 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.02
- Policies Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.03 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.03
- Complaint procedure Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.04 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.04
- Public notice Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.05 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.05
- Evaluation Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.06 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.06
- Reporting Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.07 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.07
- State superintendent Rule from a state agency Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.08 Read the text of Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 9.08
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Wisconsin
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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