Anti-Bullying: Resources for Families

Families can play a role in any potential bullying situation involving their student and take important steps to help prevent and address bullying, intimidation, or harassment.

Learn what everyone should do to prevent and address bullying

Each Ohio school district is required to have a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying. Parents can ask their district or local school board about its local policy.  Districts can use these tools to ensure their policy is effective. The Guidance for Implementing an Anti-Bullying Policy that outlines specific steps that staff, teachers and students each should take if bullying occurs.  

Steps to take if bullying affects your child  

LEARN ABOUT BULLYING AND TALK TO YOUR CHILD

Students who are bullied can be reluctant to discuss these harmful situations. Regularly, talk to your student to learn about bullying behavior at school and document each concern of bullying behavior.  

What is Bullying? 

Ohio law defines bullying in Ohio schools as any intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act that a student or group of students exhibits toward another student more than once, and:  

  • Causes mental or physical harm to the other student;  ​
  • Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student;
  • Is violence within a dating relationship.  

Note that “bullying” refers to all instances of harassment, intimidation and bullying. This definition also appears in the Anti-Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying Model Policy.  

What should parents and guardians do if their student is bullied at school or at school events?  

  • Talk with students daily to be aware of student’s experiences at school;  
  • Ask to see the school or district’s official anti-bullying policy and learn about consequences; 
  • Report bullying problems to school officials immediately; and  
  • Call local law enforcement if a student is in danger.  

What are the responsibilities of school administrators when bullying occurs?  

Ohio law, states building principals (or their designees) respond to and investigate any incident of bullying that is reported (either verbally or in writing), document the incident in writing and notify parents or guardians of any students involved. The building principal’s responsibilities also include using intervention strategies for protecting victims from additional harassment or retaliation and interventions or disciplinary procedures for any students involved in the bullying behavior. The Anti-Bullying Strategies and Resources for Educators has more information on administrator requirements. 

Report Bullying Behavior  

Report each incident of bullying behavior to your school or district. Establish that the bullying behavior is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for your student.   

Develop A Student Action Plan  

Following a bullying incident, districts and parents may use the Student Action Planning process  to develop and continually improve plans for keeping the student safe from future bullying incidents.    

Resources

  • StopBullying.gov gives one-stop access to U.S. Government information on bullying topics: 
  • PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center - provides comprehensive information for students and adults about how to help someone who is experiencing bullying.  
  • Mental Health America - Offer tips for parents and steps to take to stop bullying behavior.
  • Ohio Attorney General -– Cyber Safety Toolkit – Find resources here to help support and guide children on the safe and wise use of the Internet, online video games and cell phones.
  • Red Tree House – This site allows families and professionals to explore and share information, knowledge and resources; make community connections; and build support networks to help and encourage children and young adults, prenatal through age 25.
  • NetFamilyNews – This web-based newsletter is for anyone everyone interested in safety for young people as they use technology

Last Modified: 1/13/2025 6:52:01 AM