A plain-English guide to North Dakota’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: North Dakota 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.
North Dakota's bullying law includes 13 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates comprehensive. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under North Dakota law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (HB 1160, April 25, 2025).
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed May 11, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 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 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.
- 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.
- Your state limits student phone use at school. Know your school's phone rules so responses to online incidents are consistent.
What North Dakota’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: 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 North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations?
North Dakota anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
1. “Bullying” means:
a. Conduct that occurs in a public school, on school district premises, in a district owned or leased school bus or school vehicle, or at any public school or school district sanctioned or sponsored activity or event and which:
(1) Is so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive that it substantially interferes with the student’s educational opportunities;
(2) Places the student in actual and reasonable fear of harm;
(3) Places the student in actual and reasonable fear of damage to property of the student; or
(4) Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the public school; or
b. Conduct received by a student while the student is in a public school, on school district premises, in a district owned or leased school bus or school vehicle, or at any public school or school district sanctioned or sponsored activity or event and which:
(1) Is so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive that it substantially interferes with the student’s educational opportunities;
(2) Places the student in actual and reasonable fear of harm;
(3) Places the student in actual and reasonable fear of damage to property of the student; or
(4) Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the public school; or
c. Conduct received or sent by a student through the use of an electronic device while the student is outside a public school, off school district premises, and off school district owned or leased property which:
(1) Places the student in actual and reasonable fear of:
(a) Harm; or
(b) Damage to property of the student; and
(2) Is so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive the conduct substantially interferes with the student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the public school.
2. “Conduct” includes the use of technology or other electronic media.
N.D. Cent. Code, § 15.1-19-17 (2019)
Do North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. North Dakota anti-bullying laws cover conduct received or sent by a student through the use of an electronic device while the student is outside a public school, off school district premises, and off school district owned or leased property which:
(1) Places the student in actual and reasonable fear of:
(a) Harm; or
(b) Damage to property of the student; and
(2) Is so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive the conduct substantially interferes with the student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the public school.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
North Dakota school districts must adopt a policy prohibiting bullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting bullying and reprisal or retaliation against a victim or witness of an alleged act of bullying, or any individual who reports or provides information about an alleged act of bullying;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior that are no less inclusive that the definition in state law;
- Procedures for reporting, investigations, and documentation;
- Disciplinary consequences for violation of the policy;
- Requirements for law enforcement notification if there is reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred; and
- Strategies to protect a victim of bullying, reprisal, or retaliation.
North Dakota anti-bullying laws require districts to explain and discuss the policy with its students and to file a copy of the policy with the superintendent of public instruction.
Do North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under North Dakota anti-bullying laws or regulations.
North Dakota 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 North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. North Dakota school districts must provide bullying prevention programs to all students from kindergarten through grade twelve.
Do North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. North Dakota anti-bullying laws require districts to provide teachers and administrators with professional development on youth behavioral health, including bullying.
Do North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
Yes. North Dakota anti-bullying laws require districts to establish strategies to protect a victim of bullying, reprisal, or retaliation.
Do North Dakota anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. North Dakota school districts must involve parents, school district employees, volunteers, students, school district administrators, law enforcement personnel, domestic violence sexual assault organizations, and community representatives in developing the bullying policy.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed May 11, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: HB 1160, April 25, 2025.
Source: Ballotpedia, checked November 11, 2026.
Online safety and social media laws for minors
No state online safety laws for minors are listed for North Dakota 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 (6)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Youth behavioral health training to teachers, administrators, and ancillary staff Law passed by the legislature North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-07-34 Read the text of North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-07-34
- Bullying – Definition Law passed by the legislature North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-17 Read the text of North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-17
- Bullying – Prohibition by policy Law passed by the legislature North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-18 Read the text of North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-18
- Bullying prevention programs Law passed by the legislature North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-20 Read the text of North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-20
- Causes of action – Immunity – School districts Law passed by the legislature North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-21 Read the text of North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-21
- Causes of action – Immunity – Nonpublic schools Law passed by the legislature North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-22 Read the text of North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-19-22
Official North Dakota resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in North Dakota
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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