A plain-English guide to South Carolina’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: South Carolina 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.
South Carolina's bullying law includes 11 of 14 key elements, which Lantern rates strong. Cyberbullying can also be a crime under South Carolina law. State law lets schools discipline students for cyberbullying. School phones: statewide ban (Budget proviso in 2024-25 Appropriations Act, July 3, 2024). South Carolina also has 2 online-safety laws for minors, including Age-Appropriate Code Design, HB 3431, Act 96, SC Code Section 39-80-10 et seq..
Sources last checked: StopBullying.gov summary reviewed June 4, 2026 · school phone rules checked November 11, 2026 · online-safety tracker updated May 22, 2026.
Lantern · State profile
Strong state protections · 11 of 14 key elements
- Covers cyberbullying Yes
- Reaches off-campus behavior No
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Your state has laws on minors' online safety. They mostly regulate tech companies, but they are useful context when you talk with families.
What South Carolina’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 South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations?
South Carolina anti-bullying laws include the following definition of bullying:
“Harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means a gesture, an electronic communication, or a written, verbal, physical, or sexual act that is reasonably perceived to have the effect of:
- harming a student physically or emotionally or damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of personal harm or property damage; or
- insulting or demeaning a student or group of students causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-63-120 (2006)
Do South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
No. South Carolina anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
South Carolina school districts must adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:
- Statements prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student;
- Definitions of prohibited behavior that are no less inclusive than definitions in state law;
- Descriptions of appropriate student behavior;
- Consequences and remedial actions for persons committing acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and for persons engaging in reprisal or retaliation;
- Procedures for reporting and investigations, including designation of appropriate school personnel responsible for taking reports and investigating complaints;
- Statements prohibiting reprisal or retaliation;
- Processes for discussing the district’s harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy with students; and
- Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district.
Do South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
No. There are no specific groups listed under South Carolina anti-bullying laws or regulations.
South Carolina 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 South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. South Carolina anti-bullying laws encourage districts to establish bullying prevention programs and other initiatives involving school staff, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement, and community members.
Do South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to prevent and respond to bullying incidents?
Yes. South Carolina anti-bullying laws require districts to incorporate information on district harassment, intimidation, or bullying policies into employee training programs and provide training to school volunteers who have significant contact with students. South Carolina anti-bullying laws also require the State Board of Education to develop teacher preparation program standards on the identification and prevention of bullying.
Do South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. South Carolina anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do South Carolina anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. South Carolina school districts must involve parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community representatives in the process of creating harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies.
Answers from StopBullying.gov, last reviewed June 4, 2026.
School phone and device rules
Statewide ban. Most recent statewide action: Budget proviso in 2024-25 Appropriations Act, July 3, 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 Code Design, HB 3431, Act 96, SC Code Section 39-80-10 et seq.
In effect: February 5, 2026 Challenge filed, February 9, 2026 - Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act, H 4951, SC Code Section 39-5-910 et seq.
In effect: January 1, 2027
Source: Orrick Online Safety Law Tracker, updated May 22, 2026.
Legal citations, explained (10)
Each entry shows what the law or rule is about first, then its official name with abbreviations spelled out.
- Citation of article Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-110 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-110
- Definitions Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-120 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-120
- Prohibited conduct; reports by witnesses Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-130 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-130
- Local school districts to adopt policies prohibiting harassment; required components; model policies by State Board of Education; bullying prevention programs Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-140 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-140
- Availability of civil or criminal redress; immunity of reporting school employee or volunteer Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-150 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-150
- Grounds for which trustees may expel, suspend, or transfer pupils; petition for readmission; expulsion, suspension, or transfer Law passed by the legislature South Caroline Code Annotated Section 59-63-210 Read the text of South Caroline Code Annotated Section 59-63-210
- Barring enrollment of student; grounds; notice and hearing; duration of bar Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-217 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-217
- Student hazing prohibited; definitions Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-275 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-275
- Transfer upon violation of restraining order; interscholastic activity eligibility Law passed by the legislature South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-425 Read the text of South Carolina Code Annotated Section 59-63-425
- Minimum standards of student conduct and disciplinary enforcement procedures to be implemented by local school districts Rule from a state agency South Carolina Code of Regulations 43-279 Read the text of South Carolina Code of Regulations 43-279
Official South Carolina resources
Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm with your district and state education department.
Find a school district in South Carolina
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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