State and local lawmakers have taken action to prevent bullying and protect children. Each jurisdiction—including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories (state)—addresses bullying differently. Some have established laws, policies, and regulations. Others have developed model policies schools and local educational agencies (districts) can use as they develop their own local laws, policies, and regulations.

Most state laws, policies, and regulations require districts and schools to implement a bullying policy and procedures to investigate and respond to bullying when it occurs. A handful of states also require bullying prevention programs, inclusion of bullying prevention in health education standards, and teacher professional development. These state laws generally do not prescribe specific consequences for kids who engage in bullying behavior, and very few classify bullying as a criminal offense. Further, states may address bullying, cyberbullying, and related behaviors in a single law (statute) or in multiple laws (education code, criminal code). In some states, bullying laws are included in the sections of the criminal code that apply to juveniles.

Although no federal law directly addresses bullying, in some cases, bullying overlaps with discriminatory harassment when it is based on race, national origin, color, sex, age, disability, or religion. When bullying and harassment overlap, federally-funded schools (including colleges and universities) have an obligation to resolve the harassment. When the situation is not adequately resolved, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division may be able to help.

In Vermont, bullying is addressed through state laws and policies that mandate schools and districts to have anti-bullying policies in place. These policies require the establishment of procedures for reporting, documenting, investigating, and responding to bullying incidents. Vermont law defines bullying and outlines expectations for prevention and intervention strategies within schools. The state also emphasizes the importance of professional development for educators in recognizing and preventing bullying. While Vermont law does not typically prescribe specific consequences for students who bully, it does require that schools take action to stop bullying and prevent its recurrence. Cyberbullying is also addressed in Vermont's statutes, extending protections to students against bullying that occurs online or through electronic communication. It's important to note that while Vermont's laws focus on prevention and response within the educational system, bullying is not classified as a criminal offense for juveniles. However, in instances where bullying intersects with discriminatory harassment based on protected characteristics such as race, sex, or disability, federal laws may come into play, and educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to address and resolve such harassment.