Texas anti-bullying law focuses on what bullying is, what schools must do about it, and how students are protected, especially after “David’s Law” strengthened the rules in 2017.

Core legal definition elements

In Texas Education Code §37.0832, bullying is defined around harm , imbalance of power , and impact on the school environment.

Key elements include:

  • Conduct that causes physical harm to a student or damage to a student’s property.
  • Conduct that places a student in reasonable fear of harm to themselves or their property.
  • Conduct that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates a threatening, intimidating, or abusive educational environment.
  • Conduct that materially and substantially disrupts the educational process, classroom, or school operations.
  • Conduct that infringes on the rights of the bullied student at school.

In practice, this means Texas law cares not only about “mean behavior,” but whether the behavior creates a hostile or abusive educational environment and affects the student’s ability to learn or feel safe.

Required school policies and procedures

Texas law requires every public school district to have formal anti-bullying policies and discipline management programs.

Significant required elements include:

  • A written policy that explicitly prohibits bullying and cyberbullying of any student.
  • A ban on retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, reports or participates in a bullying investigation (victims, witnesses, or others).
  • Clear procedures for reporting bullying, including how students, parents, and staff can file a report (often allowing written and sometimes anonymous reporting).
  • Required procedures for investigating reported bullying and determining whether bullying occurred.
  • A process to promptly notify the parent/guardian of the victim and the parent/guardian of the alleged bully within a reasonable time after a report.
  • A discipline management program that includes prevention and education about bullying, unwanted aggression, sexual harassment, and similar conduct.

These policies must exist at the district level, and each campus typically has its own detailed procedures based on the district policy.

Protections and supports for students

Texas law also addresses how students who are involved in bullying (victims, witnesses, and sometimes aggressors) should be supported.

Important protections include:

  • Required description of actions a student can take to obtain help and intervention when bullying occurs (who to tell, how to report, where to go).
  • Counseling options for students who are victims, witnesses, or who engage in bullying, which districts must identify in their policies.
  • A rule that a student who is found to be a victim of bullying cannot be disciplined for using reasonable self‑defense in response to the bullying.
  • Requirements that discipline for bullying a student with disabilities must comply with federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • For students who have been bullied, parents may request a transfer to another class or campus if the school determines the student was bullied (Texas Education Code §25.0342).

These elements are meant to make sure the law does not just punish, but also offers safety planning and mental‑health support.

“David’s Law” and cyberbullying

“David’s Law” (SB 179, effective 2017) significantly expanded Texas anti- bullying laws, especially for cyberbullying.

Key changes and elements tied to David’s Law include:

  • Clear recognition of cyberbullying, including bullying that occurs off‑campus or online if it interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts school operations.
  • Stronger rules for reporting bullying and cyberbullying, with districts required to have policies that meet minimum standards from the Texas Education Agency.
  • Authority for schools to place students who engage in serious bullying or cyberbullying into a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) or expel them in severe cases (for example, bullying that encourages self‑harm).
  • Emphasis on training, prevention, mediation, and mental‑health support as part of district‑wide policy, not just punishment after incidents.

Because of David’s Law, many Texas districts now have more detailed cyberbullying procedures and staff training requirements than they did a decade ago.

Rights and practical takeaways for families

For parents and students trying to navigate these laws, several practical rights stand out.

Key takeaways:

  • Every district must prohibit bullying and cyberbullying and have a written policy explaining how complaints are handled.
  • Retaliation against anyone involved in reporting or investigating bullying is itself prohibited.
  • Parents have a right to be notified when their child is identified as a victim or alleged aggressor in a bullying incident.
  • In many cases, parents can request that a bullied child be moved to another class or campus if the school confirms bullying occurred.
  • Students with disabilities have special protections, and bullying that affects their education may trigger additional legal duties for the school under federal law.

For the very latest local rules, families are usually encouraged to review their own district’s “Student Welfare/Bullying” and “Student Rights and Complaints” policies, which build on these statewide requirements.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.