Anti-Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

Ohio schools have the opportunity and responsibility to create safe and supportive environments that allow students to learn by creating and implementing policies against harassment, intimidation, and bullying and providing staff training and student instruction.

What are Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying?

Bullying involves unwanted, aggressive behavior that results in a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior repeats, or has the potential to repeat, over time. Students who are bullied or bully others are at risk for negative impacts on mental and physical health, substance use, violence, and educational experiences.

Under Ohio law, harassment, intimidation, or bullying is defined as any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that:

  • ​A student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and;
  • Causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and
  • Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student including violence within a dating relationship. 
These behaviors may also occur by an act of electronic means like a cellular telephone, personal communication device, or other electronic communication device. Bullying can occur anywhere, including in person or in online platforms (like texting and social media).

School and District Requirements 

Policy

Ohio law requires all public schools to establish a harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy, in consultation with parents, school employees, school volunteers, students, and community members, and include the following:
  • Each board shall update the policy adopted under this section to include violence within a dating relationship and harassment, intimidation, or bullying by electronic means.

Policy Awareness, Staff Training, and Student Instruction

Ohio law outlines the requirements for in-service training for school staff to be trained on the board’s policy.

Ohio law requires schools and districts to:

  • Include the board’s policy in student handbooks or any publication that includes rules, procedures, and standards of conduct for schools and students in the district. The policy and an explanation of the seriousness of bullying by electronic means shall be made available to students in the district and to their custodial parents or guardians. Incorporate information on the policy into employee training materials;
  • Provide students with annual, age-appropriate instruction on the harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy, including a discussion of consequences for violations; and
  • Distribute a written statement annually describing the policy and the consequences for violations of the policy to each student's custodial parent or guardian.

What can schools do to address bullying and keep students safe?

Anti-bullying policies and practices help schools set clear behavior expectations and consequences, fostering a safe and supportive environment. Schools and districts may implement prevention strategies to reduce bullying, such as:

  • Creating a safe and positive school climate;
  • Supporting students in developing problem-solving skills, managing emotions, and establishing positive relationships;
  • Setting and enforcing policies that outline behavioral expectations and monitor places where bullying is more likely to occur;
  • Training staff, students, and families on how to report and respond to incidents of bullying;
  • Exploring how the school uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to recognize positive behaviors;
  • Provide students with age-appropriate education on the impact of bullying and promoting empathy to foster a culture of respect and support among peers; and
  • Engaging with families to promote bullying prevention.

When someone reports an incident, the school should quickly enforce its policy to protect students from further harassment or bullying. It is crucial to provide support for all children involved to ensure that bullying does not continue and minimize impact.

What should families do if their student is bullied at school or school events?

Families play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying by:

  • Learning what bullying is and what it is not;
  • Knowing the warning signs of bullying and cyberbullying;
  • Speaking with students daily to understand their school experience; 
  • Learning about the school’s bullying prevention and anti-bullying policy;
  • Seeking help by reporting bullying problems to school staff;
  • Calling or texting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to connect with a crisis counselor; and
  • Contacting local law enforcement if a student is in danger. 

Students may call or text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime for crisis support.

Resources

Department of Education and Workforce School Safety Webinars include: 

The Ohio School Safety Center provides information for school administrators, educators, parents, students, and community members on improving school safety.  

StopBullying.gov presents evidence-based bullying prevention strategies, including information on cyberbullying.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers a Veto Violence initiative with free violence prevention trainings, tools and resources.   

SchoolSafety.gov shares strategies and resources to prevent bullying and cyberbullying to help foster a safe online and school environment. 

The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments created modules on Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment in Our Nation’s Classrooms to help teachers cultivate meaningful relationships with students while creating positive classroom environments. 

Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) presents Anti-Bullying and Disabilities resources to increase awareness, provide education and promote action.

Last Modified: 9/15/2025 12:42:04 PM