Gavin Howe
The anti-bullying movement is an organized effort to combat bullying. While there are no federal laws that specifically address bullying, all 50 states in the United States have passed school anti-bullying legislation, with Georgia being the first in 1999. The Columbine school shooting in 1999 and the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi are examples of extreme bullying incidents that caused states to consider implementing anti-bullying laws. Anti-bullying laws are important as they can change social norms and reduce the odds of a child being bullied.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First state to enact anti-bullying legislation | Georgia, in May 1999 |
| First state to enact cyberbullying legislation | California, in 2008 |
| Most recent state to adopt anti-bullying legislation | Montana, in April 2015 |
| State with the toughest anti-bullying law | New Jersey |
| State with the first anti-cyberbullying law | Alabama |
| Country with an anti-bullying act | Philippines, enacted in 2013 |
| Country with an Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures Against Violence in Schools | South Korea, enacted in 2012 |
| Country with anti-bullying legislation | Quebec, enacted in 2012 |
| Federal laws that address bullying | Civil rights and anti-discrimination laws |
| Federal laws that address bullying | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) |
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What You'll Learn
The Columbine school shooting in 1999
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, entered Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, with semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and explosives. In less than 20 minutes, they killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded 21 others. Harris and Klebold then took their own lives. The death toll would have been much higher if the two propane tank bombs placed in the cafeteria had detonated. The Columbine High School shooting was one of the deadliest school shooting incidents in American history, sparking national debates on gun control laws, school bullying, and teenage use of pharmaceutical antidepressants, among other issues.
The shooting brought about a change in the way police respond to active shootings, with increased focus on targeting the shooter as soon as possible. The incident also resulted in the introduction of the Immediate Action Rapid Deployment (IARD) tactic, used in active-shooter situations, and an increased emphasis on school security with zero-tolerance policies.
In the years following the shooting, numerous individuals connected to the event experienced long-term physical and psychological effects. Survivors, including students and teachers, reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. As of June 2025, the shooting has inspired more than 70 copycat attacks, and its impact has been dubbed the "Columbine effect".
In 1999, the same year as the Columbine shooting, Georgia became the first of all fifty states in the United States to pass school anti-bullying legislation. Montana became the last state to adopt anti-bullying legislation in April 2015. While there is no federal law that specifically addresses bullying, it may trigger responsibilities under federal anti-discrimination laws enforced by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
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The Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSC) is a federal law enacted as part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. While it does not specifically address bullying, it provides support for school safety and the prevention of violence, drug abuse, and substance abuse in schools. The SDFSC achieves this by providing resources and funding to local educational agencies and community-based organisations to establish and improve local programs focused on drug and violence prevention, early intervention, and student academic achievement.
The SDFSC outlines several measures to promote safe and drug-free schools and communities. Firstly, it emphasises the need for comprehensive plans for fund utilisation by state educational agencies and chief executive officers. These plans should complement the activities of local educational agencies and comply with effectiveness principles. Secondly, the SDFSC highlights the importance of fostering a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports academic achievement. This includes implementing programs and activities that address bullying, violence, and substance abuse.
The Act also provides assurances that drug and violence prevention programs convey a clear message that these behaviours are wrong and harmful. It further requires schools to have plans in place to maintain a safe and drug-free environment. Additionally, the SDFSC supports safe zones of passage, ensuring students' safety when travelling to and from school through initiatives like bicycle and pedestrian safety programs. The hiring and mandatory training of school security personnel based on scientific research is also addressed in the Act.
The SDFSC expands and improves school-based mental health services related to illegal drug use and violence. This includes early identification, assessment, and counselling services provided to students, parents, and school personnel by qualified mental health providers. The Act also encourages conflict resolution programs, peer mediation, and youth anti-crime and anti-drug councils. While the SDFSC does not directly address bullying, it provides a framework for creating safer school environments, which can indirectly contribute to bullying prevention and intervention.
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The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013
The Republic Act 10627, also known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, was signed into law by former President Benigno Aquino III on September 6, 2013. This law was enacted in response to a 2008 study by Britain-based Plan International, which found that 50% of school children in the Philippines had experienced bullying by their teachers or peers.
The Act requires all elementary and secondary schools in the Philippines to adopt an anti-bullying policy. This includes provisions to address cyberbullying and slanderous statements that cause emotional distress, such as directing foul language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting, and commenting negatively on a victim's appearance, clothes, or body. Schools are also required to educate students and parents about the dynamics of bullying and the anti-bullying policies in place. Additionally, schools must maintain records of relevant information and statistics on bullying incidents while keeping the identities of the bullies confidential.
The Philippines is not the only country to have implemented such legislation. In 2012, the provincial government of Quebec, Canada, initiated legislation to support anti-bullying laws. Similarly, in 2004, South Korea enacted the Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures Against Violence in Schools, following a civic movement led by the Blue Tree Foundation, an NGO specializing in school violence prevention.
Within the United States, there is no federal law specifically addressing bullying. However, individual states have taken different approaches to address bullying. All fifty states have passed school anti-bullying legislation, with Georgia being the first in 1999 and Montana the most recent in 2015. Some states, like North Dakota, have defined bullying in their laws and outlined prevention policies for public schools. New Jersey has been praised for its comprehensive anti-bullying legislation, which requires schools to report every case of bullying, and holds administrators accountable for investigating reports.
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Cyberbullying laws
Cyberbullying, a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means, has become increasingly common since the 2000s, especially among teenagers and adolescents due to their increased use of social media. In response to the growing prevalence of cyberbullying, various laws and initiatives have been implemented to address this issue.
In the United States, several states, including Florida, California, and Missouri, have passed laws specifically targeting cyberbullying. For example, California prohibits the use of electronic devices to cause someone to fear for their life. Florida's "Jeffrey Johnson Stand Up for All Students Act" prohibits all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying. Missouri's law imposes penalties for violent threats made over social media, with enhanced penalties if the victim is under seventeen years old.
The issue of cyberbullying gained significant attention after several tragic suicides of teenagers who were victims of online harassment. These incidents spurred the enactment of anti-cyberbullying laws at the state level. For instance, the case of Megan Meier, a 13-year-old who died by suicide due to cyberbullying in 2007, led to Missouri passing an anti-harassment law that included acts of cyberbullying. Similarly, the suicide of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student, resulted in New Jersey strengthening its anti-bullying legislation with "The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights."
While there is no federal law in the United States that specifically addresses bullying, certain federal anti-discrimination laws enforced by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights may apply when bullying overlaps with discriminatory harassment based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. Additionally, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, provides federal support to promote school safety, although it does not directly address bullying and harassment.
In other countries, such as the Philippines, the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 requires all elementary and secondary schools to adopt anti-bullying policies. South Korea enacted the "Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures Against Violence in Schools" in 2012, and the provincial government of Quebec, Canada, introduced anti-bullying legislation in the same year.
To combat cyberbullying, various initiatives and curriculum requirements have been implemented. For instance, the Back Off Bully application allows individuals to anonymously report bullying incidents using computers, smartphones, or iPads. This app is being considered as a standard operating procedure in schools across Connecticut. Additionally, curriculum requirements, such as the Ofsted eSafety guidance in the UK and Overarching Learning Outcome 13 in Australia, aim to address cyberbullying education and prevention.
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Anti-discrimination laws
While there are no federal laws specifically targeting bullying in the United States, it can overlap with harassment and trigger responsibilities under federal anti-discrimination laws. These include Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enforced by the US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. Bullying that is based on race, ethnicity, colour, national origin, sex, disability, or religion falls under these anti-discrimination laws, and schools are legally obligated to address it. Each state in the US has its own approach to anti-bullying legislation, with all fifty states having passed school anti-bullying laws, the first being Georgia in 1999.
In the workplace, anti-discrimination laws are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigates charges of discrimination and retaliation. The Fair Work Act in Australia prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against employees for discriminatory reasons, including sex, race, religion, or gender. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is the national workplace relations tribunal that deals with applications to stop bullying under the Fair Work Act.
In the Philippines, the Republic Act 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, requires all elementary and secondary schools to adopt an anti-bullying policy. This law was enacted in response to a 2008 study that found that 50% of school children in the Philippines experienced bullying by their teachers or peers. South Korea also passed the Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures Against Violence in Schools in 2012, following a civic movement led by the Blue Tree Foundation, an NGO specialising in school violence prevention.
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Frequently asked questions
The Columbine school shooting in 1999 was a deadly incident that brought to light the extreme retaliation victims of bullying could resort to. This incident triggered the anti-bullying movement.
In May 1999, the state of Georgia enacted the first anti-bullying legislation. This law included bullying that occurred at school, as well as bullying that occurred elsewhere but affected those in school.
Anti-bullying laws typically require schools to implement anti-bullying policies and procedures to investigate and respond to bullying. Some states also require bullying prevention programs, the inclusion of bullying prevention in health education standards, and teacher professional development.
While there is no specific federal law that addresses bullying, federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws provide protections for individuals who have historically experienced harassment and discrimination, such as religious minorities, women, and ethnic minorities.
Anti-bullying laws have evolved with advancements in technology, addressing new forms of bullying such as cyberbullying. Laws have also become more comprehensive, with some states, like New Jersey, enforcing stricter policies and holding witnesses who do not report bullying legally responsible.
