Bullying and Cyberbullying

Subtopics

Cyberbullying

Physical Bullying

Verbal Bullying

Create a safer school environment by addressing bullying and cyberbullying.

Bullying and cyberbullying threaten students’ physical and emotional safety and can impact their social and academic success at school. There are several reasons behind school violence; in some cases, being the victim of bullying could play a contributing role.

In a 2019 survey about bullying, about 22 percent of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school. The survey also found that close to 16 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported being electronically bullied during the previous 12 months. Bullying is associated with negative outcomes for those who are bullied, including substance use, suicide, and impacts on physical and mental health.

Everyone at school can work together to create an environment where bullying is not acceptable. Districts and schools should adopt policies to help prevent bullying and cyberbullying, such as school climate initiatives and support for digital citizenship and positive character development. Procedures for monitoring student behavior in school and online can help schools identify at-risk behaviors and provide interventions before they create safety issues.

Use the filter below to sort resources available based upon stages of preparedness and subtopic.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning about bullying and cyberbullying. Use these resources to help implement anti-bullying initiatives at your school. Members of the school community can also download this SchoolSafety.gov infographic for an overview of bullying, strategies to consider to help identify, prevent, and address bullying, and a sampling of resources.

Webpage

Prevent Bullying

Department of Health and Human Services

This website provides information to the general public on bullying, such as definitions of bullying and tools to prevent bullying in schools.

Webpage

StopBullying.gov

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice

This interagency website provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how schools and individuals can prevent and respond to bullying.

Webpage

Tips for Teachers on Cyberbullying

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice

This webpage provides information for teachers, school personnel, and staff to identify warning signs a child is being cyberbullied or is cyberbullying, as well as strategies to prevent and address it.

Filter Resources

All Bullying and Cyberbullying Resources

The federal government identified additional resources that highlight strategies for school safety. Use these resources to learn more about bullying and cyberbullying.

Guidance

Stronger Connections Grant Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Department of Education, 2022

This downloadable frequently asked questions document is designed to assist state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) in guiding effective use of Stronger Connections funds to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments and to respond to inquiries the Department of Education has received from SEAs, LEAs, and students and families, about program implementation. The Stronger Connections Grant Program competitively awards subgrants to high-need LEAs to establish safer and healthier learning environments, and to prevent and respond to acts of bullying, violence, and hate that impact school communities at individual and systemic levels, among other programs and activities.

Training Program

Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment in Our Nation’s Classrooms

Department of Education, 2018

This training for teachers, school administrators and school districts is made up of two modules to address bullying in classrooms. Specifically, it is designed to assist teachers in cultivating meaningful relationships with students while creating a positive climate in the classroom.

Report

What Do the Data Reveal About Violence in Schools?

Department of Justice, 2020

This report reviews the trends in school violence from the most often cited sources of school safety data and discusses how it can be explored further through additional studies on school shootings and a federal effort to improve federal data and its implications for school safety.