A plain-English guide to California’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: California 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.
California's bullying law includes 14 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under California law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: limits cellphone usage in classrooms (Assembly Bill No. 3216, September 23, 2024). California also has 8 online-safety laws for minors, including Age Appropriate Design Code Act, AB-2246, Chapt. 187-2026, California Civ. Code. Section 1798.99.28-40.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 28, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated October 10, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Comprehensive state protections · 14 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 Yes
- School phone rules Limits phones in class
- Online safety laws for minors 8 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.
- 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.
- 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 California’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 California anti-bullying laws and regulations?
California anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of bullying and cyber sexual bullying:
"Bullying" means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils as defined in Section 48900.2, 48900.3, or 48900.4, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
- Placing a reasonable pupil or pupils in fear of harm to that pupil's or those pupils' person or property.
- Causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on the pupil's physical or mental health.
- Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with the pupil's academic performance.
- Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with the pupil's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
"Electronic act" means the creation or transmission originated on or off the school site, by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager, of a communication, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
- A message, text, sound, video, or image.
- A post on a social network internet website, including, but not limited to:Posting to or creating a burn page. "Burn page" means an internet website created for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1).Creating a credible impersonation of another actual pupil for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1). "Credible impersonation" means to knowingly and without consent impersonate a pupil for the purpose of bullying the pupil and such that another pupil would reasonably believe, or has reasonably believed, that the pupil was or is the pupil who was impersonated.Creating a false profile for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1). "False profile" means a profile of a fictitious pupil or a profile using the likeness or attributes of an actual pupil other than the pupil who created the false profile.
- An act of cyber sexual bullying.For purposes of this clause, "cyber sexual bullying" means the dissemination of, or the solicitation or incitement to disseminate, a photograph or other visual recording by a pupil to another pupil or to school personnel by means of an electronic act that has or can be reasonably predicted to have one or more of the effects described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of paragraph (1). A photograph or other visual recording, as described in this subclause, shall include the depiction of a nude, semi-nude, or sexually explicit photograph or other visual recording of a minor where the minor is identifiable from the photograph, visual recording, or other electronic act.For purposes of this clause, "cyber sexual bullying" does not include a depiction, portrayal, or image that has any serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific value or that involves athletic events or school-sanctioned activities.
Cal. Ed. Code § 48900 (2019)
Do California anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. California anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct encompassing any electronic act where the creation or transmission originated on or off the school site.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
California school districts are required to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying and procedures for preventing acts of bullying and cyberbullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including timelines for investigating and reporting complaints;
- Publications of antidiscrimination, anti-harassment, anti-intimidation, and anti-bullying laws;
- Resources available to support LGBTQ and other at-risk students;
- Protections for complainants from retaliation; and
- Identification of a district officer responsible for ensuring district compliances with requirements under the law.
California school districts are encouraged to maintain documentation of complaints and their resolution for a minimum of one review cycle.
Do California anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. California anti-bullying laws require districts to adopt a policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics as defined in EDC § 234.1.
California 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 California anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. California anti-bullying laws direct the Department of Education to display information, curricula, and resources that address bias-related discrimination, harassment, intimidation, cyber sexual bullying, and bullying. This includes the development of resources and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ students. California anti-bullying laws encourage school districts to inform pupils regarding available information and resources on the state department of education website regarding the dangers and consequences of cyber sexual bullying.
California anti-bullying laws also direct the Department of Education to develop an online training module to assist all school staff, school administrators, parents, pupils, and community members in increasing their knowledge of the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying. The online training module shall include, but is not limited to, identifying an act of bullying or cyberbullying and implementing strategies to address bullying and cyberbullying.
Do California anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. California anti-bullying laws also direct the Department of Education to develop an online training module to assist all school staff, school administrators, parents, pupils, and community members in increasing their knowledge of the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying. The online training module shall include, but is not limited to, identifying an act of bullying or cyberbullying, and implementing strategies to address bullying and cyberbullying.
Do California anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. California schools are encouraged to refer students involved with bullying to a school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, child welfare attendance personnel, school nurse, or other school support services personnel for case management, counseling, and participation in a restorative justice program, as appropriate.
Do California anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. California school districts must inform parents or legal guardian when a student is involved in an act of harassment, intimidation, cyber sexual bullying, or bullying, and must make available information on statewide resources to parents or legal guardians regarding harassment, intimidation, cyber sexual bullying, and bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 28, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Limits cellphone usage in classrooms. Most recent statewide action: Assembly Bill No. 3216, September 23, 2024.
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.
- Age Appropriate Design Code Act, AB-2246, Chapt. 187-2026, California Civ. Code. Section 1798.99.28-40
In effect: January 1, 2027 AB-2246, signed into law on September 10, 2026, repealed and replaced the · Status: repealed - Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Act, SB 976, 24 HSC Section 27000, et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2025 February 1, 2025 Partially in effect as of Sept. 2025 Partially enjoined. · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Social Media Warning Law, AB-56, 24 HSC Section 28000 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2027 - Social Media Account Deletion, AB-656, California Civ. Code. Section 3273.90 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2026 - Covered Platform Age Restriction, AB-1709, Bus. & Prof. Code. Section 22682 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2027 - Digital Age Assurance Act (DAAA), AB 1043, as amended by AB-1856, Cal Civ. Code. Section 1798.500 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2027 - California Consumer Privacy Act, California Civ. Code Section 1798.100 et seq. California Consumer Privacy Act Regulations, California Code of Regulations Title 11, Section 7000 et seq.
In effect: (CCPA): January 1, 2020 Effective date (CPRA): January 1, 2023 - Companion Chatbots, SB 243, California Bus & Prof. Code Section 22601 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2026 Applies to: All users Minors < 18 (actual knowledge) As amended by SB 867,
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated October 10, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (46)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- California Business and Professional Code Section 22589 Law passed by the legislature California Business and Professional Code Section 22589 Read the text of California Business and Professional Code Section 22589
- California Education Code Section 200 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 200 Read the text of California Education Code Section 200
- California Education Code Section 201 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 201 Read the text of California Education Code Section 201
- California Education Code Section 218 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 218 Read the text of California Education Code Section 218
- California Education Code Section 219 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 219 Read the text of California Education Code Section 219
- California Education Code Section 232.7 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 232.7 Read the text of California Education Code Section 232.7
- California Education Code Section 234 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234
- California Education Code Section 234.1 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.1 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.1
- California Education Code Section 234.2 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.2 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.2
- California Education Code Section 234.3 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.3 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.3
- California Education Code Section 234.4 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.4 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.4
- California Education Code Section 234.5 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.5 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.5
- California Education Code Section 234.6 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.6 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.6
- California Education Code Section 234.7 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 234.7 Read the text of California Education Code Section 234.7
- California Education Code Section 32260 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32260 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32260
- California Education Code Section 32261 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32261 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32261
- California Education Code Section 32262 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32262 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32262
- California Education Code Section 32265 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32265 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32265
- California Education Code Section 32270 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32270 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32270
- California Education Code Section 32282 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32282 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32282
- California Education Code Section 32283 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32283 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32283
- California Education Code Section 32283.5 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 32283.5 Read the text of California Education Code Section 32283.5
- California Education Code Section 33546 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 33546 Read the text of California Education Code Section 33546
- California Education Code Section 46600 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 46600 Read the text of California Education Code Section 46600
- California Education Code Section 48900 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900
- California Education Code Section 48900.2 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.2 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.2
- California Education Code Section 48900.3 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.3 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.3
- California Education Code Section 48900.4 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.4 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.4
- California Education Code Section 48900.5 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.5 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.5
- California Education Code Section 48900.6 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.6 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.6
- California Education Code Section 48900.8 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.8 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.8
- California Education Code Section 48900.9 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 48900.9 Read the text of California Education Code Section 48900.9
- California Education Code Section 49600 Law passed by the legislature California Education Code Section 49600 Read the text of California Education Code Section 49600
- General definitions Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4600 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4600
- Purpose and scope Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4610 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4610
- LEA responsibilities Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4620 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4620
- District policies and procedures Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4621 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4621
- Notice Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4622 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4622
- Filing a local complaint; Procedures, time lines Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4630 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4630
- Responsibilities of the LEA Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4631 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4631
- Appeal of LEA Investigation Report – Grounds Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4632 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4632
- Appeal of LEA Investigation Report Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4633 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4633
- Department investigation report Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4664 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4664
- Reconsideration of department investigation report Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4665 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4665
- Enforcement Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4670 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4670
- Description of Intervention – Transformation Model Rule from a state agency 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4806 Read the text of 5 California Code of Regulations Section 4806
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in California
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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