A plain-English guide to Iowa’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: Iowa 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.
Iowa's bullying law includes 12 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Iowa law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (HF 782, April 30, 2025). Iowa also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act, Iowa Code Section 715D.1 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 28, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 31, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Strong state protections · 12 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 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.
- State law does not clearly extend to off-campus cyberbullying. Your district policy may still apply, so check it and talk with your administrator.
- 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 Iowa’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: included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Iowa anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of harassment and bullying:
“Harassment” and “bullying” shall be construed to mean any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:
(1) Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property;
(2) Has a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health;
(3) Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s academic performance; and
(4) Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
Iowa Code § 280.28 (2007)
Do Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Iowa anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Iowa school districts must adopt a policy declaring harassment and bullying in schools as against state and school policy. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements declaring harassment and bullying to be against state and school policy and statements of scope indicating where and when the policy applies;
- Prohibitions against reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation;
- Definitions of harassment and bullying that conform to definitions in state law;
- Descriptions of the type of behavior expected from school employees, volunteers, parents or guardians, and students relative to prevention measures, reporting, and investigation;
- Disciplinary consequences and remedial actions for violation of the policy;
- Procedures for reporting and investigation, including designation of the individual responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented and the individual responsible for receiving reports; and
- Statements regarding how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Iowa anti-bullying laws require districts to integrate anti-harassment and anti-bullying polices into comprehensive school improvement plans and require districts to develop and maintain a system to collect harassment and bullying incidence data.
Do Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Iowa anti-bullying laws prohibit harassment and bullying based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student (see Iowa Code 280.28 2(4)c).
Iowa 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 Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Iowa school districts are encouraged to establish programs designed to eliminate harassment and bullying in schools, including developing a process to provide school employees, volunteers, and students with the skills and knowledge to help reduce incidents of harassment and bullying.
Do Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Iowa school districts are encouraged to establish programs designed to eliminate harassment and bullying in schools, including providing training on anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies to school employees and volunteers who have significant contact with students.
Do Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Iowa school districts are not required to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Iowa anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Iowa school districts must establish school improvement advisory committees comprised of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and representatives from the local community. The school improvement advisory committee is responsible for making recommendations to determine district harassment or bullying prevention goals, programs, training, and other initiatives.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: HF 782, April 30, 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.
- Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act, Iowa Code Section 715D.1 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2025 - SF 2417
In effect: July 1, 2027 Applies to: all users minors under 18 (knows or is reasonably certain)
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (8)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- School improvement advisory committee Law passed by the legislature Iowa Code Section 280.12 Read the text of Iowa Code Section 280.12
- Harassment and bullying prohibited—policy—immunity Law passed by the legislature Iowa Code Section 280.28 Read the text of Iowa Code Section 280.28
- Open enrollment Law passed by the legislature Iowa Code Section 282.18 Read the text of Iowa Code Section 282.18
- Hazing Law passed by the legislature Iowa Code Section 708.10 Read the text of Iowa Code Section 708.10
- Policy declaring harassment and bullying against state and school policy Rule from a state agency Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.3(13) Read the text of Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.3(13)
- Accountability for student achievement Rule from a state agency Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.8(256) Read the text of Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.8(256)
- Requirements applicable to parents/guardians and students Rule from a state agency Iowa Administrative Code 281-17.8(282) Read the text of Iowa Administrative Code 281-17.8(282)
- Prekindergarten through grade 12 paraeducator generalist certificate Rule from a state agency Iowa Administrative Code 282-24.3(272) Read the text of Iowa Administrative Code 282-24.3(272)
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Iowa
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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