A plain-English guide to Mississippi’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: Mississippi 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.
Mississippi's bullying law includes 9 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates moderate. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under Mississippi law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. There is no statewide school phone rule. Mississippi also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act, HB 1126, Mississippi Code. Annotated Sections 45-38-1 -45-38-13.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed April 29, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 18, 2025.
Lantern · State profile
Moderate state protections · 9 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior No
- District policy required Yes
- Reporting & investigation rules Yes
- Staff training No
- Support for students involved Yes
- School phone rules No statewide rule
- 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.
- 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.
- State law does not require staff training, so counselors can lead that work by offering short trainings on cyberbullying for colleagues.
- Prevention education is expected. Classroom lessons on digital citizenship and online empathy fit here.
- Your state has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What Mississippi’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: not 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: not 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: not 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 Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Mississippi anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying or harassing behavior:
"Bullying or harassing behavior" is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and that:
(a) Places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or
(b) Creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits. For purposes of this section, "hostile environment" means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as bullying or harassing behavior and the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-67 (2017)
Do Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. Mississippi anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Mississippi school districts must include a prohibition against bullying or harassment behavior in their discipline policy and code of student conduct. School district policies and codes of conduct must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting bullying of a student;
- Statements prohibiting retaliation against any person who provides information concerning an incident of bullying;
- Procedures for notifying the parent or guardian of the victim and the parent or guardian of the bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident;
- Statements regarding the actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including a requirement that procedures for reporting bullying be posted on the district’s Internet website;
- Information on counseling options for a student who is a victim of or witness to bullying or who engages in bullying; and
- Prohibitions against disciplinary measures for students who use reasonable self-defense in response to bullying.
Do Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. Mississippi anti-bullying laws prohibit bullying that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic; however, there are no specific groups listed under Mississippi anti-bullying laws or regulations.
Mississippi 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 Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Mississippi school districts must incorporate evidence-based practices and positive behavioral intervention supports into individual school district policies and codes of conduct.
Do Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
No. Mississippi anti-bullying laws do not require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents.
Do Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. Mississippi school district policies must set out the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying.
Do Mississippi anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Mississippi school district policies must include a procedure for notifying the parent or guardian of the victim and the parent or guardian of the bully following a bullying incident.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed April 29, 2026.
School phone and device rules
No statewide law or policy on student phone use is listed for Mississippi. Districts may still set their own rules.
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.
- Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act, HB 1126, Mississippi Code. Annotated Sections 45-38-1 -45-38-13
In effect: July 1, 2024 · Status: blocked in court (in part or whole) - Mississippi Code Section 11-77-3
In effect: July 1, 2023
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 18, 2025.
Legal citations, explained (6)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Intimidation, threatening or coercion of students for purpose of interfering with attendance of classes Law passed by the legislature Mississippi Code Section 37-11-20 Read the text of Mississippi Code Section 37-11-20
- State Board of Education to develop list of conflict resolution and peer mediation materials, models, and curricula from evidence-based practices and positive behavioral intervention supports Law passed by the legislature Mississippi Code Section 37-11-54 Read the text of Mississippi Code Section 37-11-54
- Bullying or harassing behavior in public schools prohibited Law passed by the legislature Mississippi Code Section 37-11-67 Read the text of Mississippi Code Section 37-11-67
- Anti-bullying personnel and discipline policies and code of student conduct Law passed by the legislature Mississippi Code Section 37-11-69 Read the text of Mississippi Code Section 37-11-69
- Policy Rule from a state agency Code of Mississippi Rules 07-000-003 Read the text of Code of Mississippi Rules 07-000-003
- Mississippi School Safety Manual Rule from a state agency Code of Mississippi Rules 07-000-192 Read the text of Code of Mississippi Rules 07-000-192
Official Mississippi resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in Mississippi
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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