A plain-English guide to Michigan’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: Michigan 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.
Michigan's bullying law includes 12 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Michigan law. School phones: statewide ban (HB 4141, February 10, 2026).
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 29, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Strong state protections · 12 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 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.
- 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.
- 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 Michigan’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: 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 Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
“Bullying” means any written, verbal, or physical act, or any electronic communication, including, but not limited to, cyberbullying, that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm 1 or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:
(i) Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.
(ii) Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.
(iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental health.
(iv) Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.
“Cyberbullying” means any electronic communication that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm 1 or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:
(i) Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.
(ii) Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.
(iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental health.
(iv) Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.
Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 380.1310b (2016)
Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Michigan anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct using a telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider that occurs off school premises if the telecommunications access device or the telecommunications service provider is owned by or under the control of the school district.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Michigan school districts must adopt and implement a policy prohibiting bullying. District policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting bullying of a pupil that include cyberbullying as a form of bullying;
- Statements prohibiting retaliation or false accusation against a target of bullying, a witness or another person with reliable information about an act of bullying;
- Provisions indicating that all pupils are protected under the policy;
- Designation of a school official responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented;
- Statements describing how the policy is to be publicized;
- Procedures for providing notification to parents or legal guardians of students involved in bullying incidents;
- Procedures for reporting, investigation, and documentation; and
- Assurances of confidentiality and safeguards for individuals reporting an act of bullying.
Michigan school districts must submit copies of their policies to the Department of Education and must report incidents of bullying to the Department on an annual basis.
Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under Michigan anti-bullying laws or regulations. Michigan anti-bullying laws state that all pupils are protected under the policy and that bullying is equally prohibited with regard to its subject matter or motivating animus.
Michigan 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 Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Michigan anti-bullying laws encourage districts to form bullying prevention task forces, programs, teen courts, and other initiatives involving school staff, pupils, school clubs, other student groups, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement, community members, and other stakeholders. Michigan anti-bullying laws also encourage districts to provide educational programs for pupils and parents on preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.
Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. Michigan anti-bullying laws encourage districts to provide annual training for administrators, school employees, and volunteers who have significant contact with pupils on preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.
Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Michigan anti-bullying laws do not encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying. Michigan school boards are encouraged to use restorative practices for students who bully, including counseling, as a disciplinary alternative or in addition to suspension or expulsion.
Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Michigan school district policies must include a procedure for providing notification to the parent or legal guardian of the victim and the perpetrator. Michigan school boards are encouraged to include in the district policy a requirement for educational programs for parents on preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 29, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: HB 4141, February 10, 2026.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
No state online safety laws for minors are listed for Michigan 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 (4)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Policy prohibiting bullying; adoption and implementation; public hearing; submission of policy to department; contents of policy; annual report of incidents of bullying; form and procedure; school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or parent or guardian reporting act of bullying to school official; modified policy; definitions; section to be known as "Matt Epling Safe School Law." Law passed by the legislature Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1310b Read the text of Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1310b
- Restorative practices as alternative or in addition to suspension or expulsion; definitions Law passed by the legislature Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1310c Read the text of Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1310c
- Allocations to eligible districts and eligible public school academies; proficiencies; funding eligibility; early literacy and numeracy; multi-tiered system of supports; weighted foundation per-pupil payment for economically disadvantaged pupils; school breakfast program; primary health care services; hearing and vision screenings; report; audit; implementation of schoolwide reform in schools with at-risk pupils; research-based professional development; instructional or behavioral coaches; prorated payments; dissolved district; anti-bullying or crisis intervention program; assignment of Pathways to Potential Success coaches; definitions Law passed by the legislature Michigan Compiled Laws Section 388.1631a Read the text of Michigan Compiled Laws Section 388.1631a
- Hazing prohibited; violation; penalty; exceptions; certain defenses barred; definitions; section title Law passed by the legislature Michigan Compiled Laws Section 750.411t Read the text of Michigan Compiled Laws Section 750.411t
Official Michigan resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Michigan
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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