A plain-English guide to New York’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: New York 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.
New York's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under New York law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (Senate Bill S3006C (state budget), May 9, 2025). New York also has 6 online-safety laws for minors, including Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, AB 8148/ SB7694, New York General Bus. Law Sections 1500–1508 SAFE for Kids Act Implementing Rules, 13 New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Section 700.
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 7, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated August 31, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Comprehensive state protections · 13 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 Statewide phone restriction
- Online safety laws for minors 6 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.
- 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 New York’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: not included
The law involves parents in preventing or responding to bullying.
Questions and answers about the law
Do New York anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. New York anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct that creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation, or abuse might reach school property.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
New York school districts must establish and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines to create a school environment that is free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Designation of a school employee responsible for receiving reports of harassment, bullying, and discrimination;
- Procedures for reporting, investigations, and documentation;
- Requirements for the school to take prompt actions reasonably calculated to end the harassment, bullying, or discrimination, eliminate any hostile environment, create a more positive school culture and climate, prevent recurrence of the behavior, and ensure the safety of the student or students against whom such harassment, bullying, or discrimination was directed;
- Prohibitions against retaliation against any individual who reports harassment, bullying, or discrimination;
- Strategies to prevent harassment, bullying, and discrimination;
- Requirements for notification of law enforcement for any incident of harassment, bullying, or discrimination that constitutes criminal conduct; and
- Requirements for how the district policy will be publicized within the district.
New York anti-bullying laws require schools to regularly report data and trends related to harassment, bullying, and discrimination to the superintendent. New York anti-bullying laws also require the State to create a procedure for reporting incidents of harassment, bullying, and discrimination on an annual basis.
Do New York anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. New York anti-bullying laws prohibit acts of harassment and bullying that include, but are not limited to, acts based on a person’s characteristics as defined in the Dignity for All Students Act (see Section 12).
New York 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 New York anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. New York school district policies must include a school strategy to prevent harassment, bullying, and discrimination. New York school districts may provide students in grades kindergarten through twelve instruction designed to promote the proper and safe use of the internet and must implement school safety plans that include strategies for improving communication among staff and students concerned with bullying. New York school districts must also include content addressing awareness and sensitivity to harassment, bullying, and discrimination in instructional programs on civility, citizenship, and character education.
Do New York anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. New York school district policies must include guidelines to be used in school training programs to discourage the development of harassment, bullying, and discrimination, and to make school employees aware of the effects of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and discrimination on students. Training programs must be designed:
a. to raise the awareness and sensitivity of school employees to potential harassment, bullying, and discrimination, and
b. to enable employees to prevent and respond to harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
Do New York anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. New York school district policies require that when an investigation reveals any verified harassment, bullying, or discrimination, schools must take prompt actions reasonably calculated to end the harassment, bullying, or discrimination, eliminate any hostile environment, create a more positive school culture and climate, prevent recurrence of the behavior, and ensure the safety of the student or students against whom such harassment, bullying, or discrimination was directed. New York school district policies must also include guidelines relating to the development of nondiscriminatory instructional and counseling methods and require that at least one staff member at every school be thoroughly trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, and sex.
Do New York anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
No. New York anti-bullying laws do not create expectations for parent involvement in addressing bullying.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 7, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: Senate Bill S3006C (state budget), May 9, 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.
- Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, AB 8148/ SB7694, New York General Bus. Law Sections 1500–1508 SAFE for Kids Act Implementing Rules, 13 New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Section 700
In effect: January 25, 2027, 180 days after the publication of Final Rule implementing the Act. - New York Child Data Protection Act, AB 8149/SB 7695, New York General Bus. Law. Sections 899-ff through 899-mm
In effect: June 20, 2025 - Safe by Design Act, S9008c, New York General Bus. Law. Sections 1539-1547
In effect: January 1, 2027 - Warning Labels for Addictive Feature Platforms, SB 4505, New York General Bus. Law. Sections 1520-1526
In effect: January 1, 2027 - NY General Bus Law Section 1700(4)
In effect: November 5, 2025 Applies to: all users - New York Safe by Design Act, S9008c, New York General Bus. Law Sections 1539-1547 (certain provisions)
In effect: January 1, 2027 Applies to: AI companions that are part of a Covered Platform minors < 18
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated August 31, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (25)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Legislative intent Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 10 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 10
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 11 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 11
- Discrimination and harassment prohibited Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 12 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 12
- Policies and guidelines Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 13 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 13
- Commissioner’s responsibilities Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 14 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 14
- Reporting by commissioner Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 15 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 15
- Protection of people who report harassment, bullying or discrimination Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 16 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 16
- Application Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 17 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 17
- Severability and construction Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 18 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 18
- Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 801-a Read the text of New York Education Law Section 801-a
- Courses of study in internet safety Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 814 Read the text of New York Education Law Section 814
- School safety plans Law passed by the legislature New York Education Law Section 2801-a Read the text of New York Education Law Section 2801-a
- Education reform program Law passed by the legislature New York Social Services Law Section 458-L Read the text of New York Social Services Law Section 458-L
- Registration of curricula in teacher education Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8. Section 52.21 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8. Section 52.21
- Purpose Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.1 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.1
- Definitions Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.2 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.2
- Filing of application for approval as a provider Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.3 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.3
- Terms of approval as a provider Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.4 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.4
- Responsibility of providers Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.5 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.5
- Review of providers by the department Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.6 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.6
- Exemption Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.7 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 57-4.7
- Required study in harassment, bullying, and discrimination prevention and intervention Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 80-1.13 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 80-1.13
- General school requirements Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 100.2 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 100.2
- Polices against harassment, bullying, and discrimination Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 119.6 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 119.6
- School safety plans Rule from a state agency New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 155.17 Read the text of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 8 Section 155.17
Official New York resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in New York
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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