A plain-English guide to District of Columbia’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: District of Columbia 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.
District of Columbia's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. District of Columbia has no crime specific to cyberbullying, but general harassment, threat and stalking laws can apply. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. There is no statewide school phone rule.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 28, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 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 No statewide rule
- 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 District of Columbia’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 District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations?
District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definition of bullying:
"Bullying" means any severe, pervasive, or persistent act or conduct, whether physical, electronic, or verbal that:
- May be based on a youth’s actual or perceived characteristics defined in § 2–1535.01. Definitions.
- Can be reasonably predicted to:Place the youth in reasonable fear of physical harm to his or her person or property;Cause a substantial detrimental effect on the youth's physical or mental health;Substantially interfere with the youth's academic performance or attendance; orSubstantially interfere with the youth's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by an agency, educational institution, or grantee.
D.C. Code § 2-1535.01 (2026)
Do District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. District of Columbia anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct. The bullying prevention policy only applies to cyberbullying sent from or to someone located on school property, at school sponsored events, on school transportation or at a transit stop at which a youth is waiting to be transported to school or a school-sponsored event. Bullying which occurs on-site, but involves off-site activities, is prohibited if it creates a hostile environment for the target or witness of bullying or impedes with a youth's ability to participate at school.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
District of Columbia schools must adopt bullying prevention policies prohibiting bullying, including cyber-bullying. School policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Definitions of bullying;
- Statements prohibiting bullying, including cyberbullying and statements of scope indicating where and when the policy applies;
- Statements prohibiting retaliation against a victim or witness of bullying, or a person who reports bullying;
- Codes of conduct that set expectations for behavior and list of consequences for conduct violations;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including the name and contact information for the person designated to received bullying reports and a secondary investigation appeals process;
- Statements of consequences for violation of the policy;
- Statements prohibiting retaliation; and
- Requirements for how to publicize the bullying prevention policy.
District of Columbia anti-bullying laws require entities to submit an annual update confirming the identity of the point of contact and any substantial revisions to the bullying prevention policy to the Office of Human Rights. Schools must also submit an annual report to the Mayor on the aggregate incidents of bullying.
Do District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Bullying may be based on a youth’s actual or perceived characteristics defined in § 2–1535.01. Definitions.
District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. District of Columbia schools are encouraged to establish an ongoing bullying prevention program for youth that is aligned with health education standards.
Do District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. District of Columbia schools must provide training on bullying prevention to all employees on an annual basis.
Do District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. District of Columbia school policies must include a list of consequences that can result from bullying incidents which are designed to correct the behavior, prevent another occurrence, and protect the target of bullying. The bullying task force must provide a referral list of community-based programs or similar resources that mitigate bullying and address identified behavioral health needs.
Do District of Columbia anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. District of Columbia anti-bullying laws establish a bullying prevention task force that includes parent representatives. The task force is intended to engage parents and legal guardians in bullying prevention efforts.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
No statewide law or policy on student phone use is listed for District of Columbia. Districts may still set their own rules.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
No state online safety laws for minors are listed for District of Columbia 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 (29)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.01 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.01
- Bullying prevention task force Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.02 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.02
- Bullying prevention policy Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.03 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.03
- Secondary investigation appeal Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.04 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.04
- Retaliation Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.05 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.05
- Bullying prevention programs Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.06 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.06
- Reporting requirement Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.07 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.07
- Availability of other remedies Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.08 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.08
- Rules Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.09 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 2-1535.09
- Responsibilities Law passed by the legislature District of Columbia Code Section 38-2602 Read the text of District of Columbia Code Section 38-2602
- Purpose Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1500 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1500
- Covered entities Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1501 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1501
- Adoption of a bullying prevention policy Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1502 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1502
- Code of conduct Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1503 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1503
- Reporting bullying and retaliation complaints Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1504 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1504
- Investigations Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1505 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1505
- Secondary investigation appeals Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1506 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1506
- Dissemination of bullying prevention policy Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1507 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1507
- Annual review and updating of bullying prevention policy Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1508 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1508
- Bullying prevention programs Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1509 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1509
- Training requirements Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1510 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1510
- Educational institutions reporting requirements Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1511 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1511
- OHR Roles and Responsibilities Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1512 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1512
- Complaint procedures at the Office of Human Rights Under the Youth Bullying Prevention Act and the D.C. Human Rights Act Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1513 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1513
- Definitions Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1599 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 4-1599
- Student grievance procedure Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-B2405 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-B2405
- Grounds for disciplinary action Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-B2502 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-B2502
- Definitions Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-B2599 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-B2599
- Grievance procedures for parents, guardians, and visitors Rule from a state agency District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-E405 Read the text of District of Columbia Regulation Section 5-E405
Official District of Columbia resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in District of Columbia
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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