A plain-English guide to Kentucky’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: Kentucky 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.
Kentucky's bullying law includes 9 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates moderate. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Kentucky law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (House Bill 208, March 26, 2025). Kentucky also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Kentucky House Bill 15, Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 367 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 28, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated May 16, 2024.
Lantern · State profile
Moderate state protections · 9 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.
- 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 Kentucky’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: 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: not 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
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Kentucky anti-bullying laws include the following definition of bullying:
“Bullying” means any unwanted verbal, physical, or social behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and is repeated or has the potential to be repeated:
1. That occurs on school premises, on school-sponsored transportation, or at a school-sponsored event; or
2. That disrupts the education process.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 158.148 (2016)
Do Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Kentucky anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct by imposing criminal sanctions for harassing communications.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Kentucky anti-bullying laws require school districts to formulate a code of acceptable behavior and discipline that prohibits bullying. The discipline code must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting bullying;
- Descriptions of the types of behavior expected from each student;
- Disciplinary consequences for students who fail to obey discipline standards and statements regarding the importance of the standards to the maintenance of a safe learning environment;
- Procedures for identifying, documenting, and reporting incidents of bullying;
- Procedures for investigating and responding to bullying complaints, including reporting incidents to the parents or legal guardians of the students involved;
- Strategies or methods of protecting students from retaliation for reporting an incident of bullying; and
- Processes for informing students, parents, legal guardians, and school employees of the requirements of the code, including training for school employees.
Kentucky anti-bullying laws require districts to update codes of discipline no less frequently than every two years and to report data on major discipline problems to the state.
Do Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Kentucky anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Kentucky 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 Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
No. Kentucky anti-bullying laws do not require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies.
Do Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Kentucky school district codes of discipline must include a process for informing students, parents, legal guardians, and school employees of the requirements of the code, including training for school employees.
Do Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Kentucky anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Kentucky anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Kentucky anti-bullying laws require school districts to report incidents of bullying to the parents, legal guardians, or other persons exercising custodial control or supervision of the students involved.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: House Bill 208, March 26, 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.
- Kentucky House Bill 15, Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 367 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2026 - AN ACT relating to the protection of children, House Bill 278, KY. REV. STAT. ANN. Section 436.13-18
In effect: July 14, 2024
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated May 16, 2024.
Legal citations, explained (6)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Anti-Bullying Month Law passed by the legislature Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 2.227 Read the text of Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 2.227
- Definition of “bullying” – discipline guidelines and model policy – Local code of acceptable behavior and discipline – Required contents of code Law passed by the legislature Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 158.148 Read the text of Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 158.148
- Definitions for chapter Law passed by the legislature Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 158.441 Read the text of Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 158.441
- Administrative regulations relating to school safety – role of department of education to maintain statewide data collection system – reportable incidents – annual statistical reports – confidentiality Law passed by the legislature Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 158.444 Read the text of Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 158.444
- Harassment Law passed by the legislature Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 525.070 Read the text of Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 525.070
- Harassing communications Law passed by the legislature Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 525.080 Read the text of Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated Section 525.080
Official Kentucky resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Kentucky
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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