Components of State Anti-Bullying Laws and Regulations
| Component | Included |
|---|---|
| Prohibiting statement | No |
| Definition | Yes |
| Scope | No |
| Protected groups | Yes |
| District policy requirement | Yes |
| Reporting and investigations | No |
| Consequences | Yes |
| Communication of policy | No |
| Safeguards and supports | No |
| Review and update of local policies | Yes |
| Prevention education | Yes |
| Staff training | No |
| Parent engagement | Yes |
Which Colorado laws and regulations cover bullying?
- Colorado Revised Statutes §18-9-124. Hazing – penalties – legislative declaration
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-2-144. Bullying prevention and education policies –short title – study
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-32-109. Board of education - specific duties - definitions
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-32-109.1. Board of education - specific powers and duties - safe school plan - conduct and discipline code - safe school reporting requirements - school response framework - school resource officers - definitions
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-32-144. Restorative justice practices - legislative declaration
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-93-101. Definitions
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-93-102. School bullying prevention and education grant program - created
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-93-103. School bullying prevention and education grant program - grant process - reports by grant recipients
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-93-104. Rules
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-93-105. School bullying prevention and education cash fund – created
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-93-106. School bullying prevention and education – availability of best practices and other resources
- Colorado Revised Statutes §22-96-104. Behavioral health care professional matching grant program – application – criteria – grant awards
- Colorado Revised Statutes §24-33.5-1803. School safety resource center – created – duties
- Colorado Revised Statutes §25-1.5-111. Suicide prevention commission – created – responsibilities – gifts, grants, donations – repeal
- 1 CCR 301-97 Rules for the administration of the school health professional grant program
- 1 CCR 301-99 Rules for the administration of the school bullying prevention and education grant program
How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations?
Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definition of bullying:
"Bullying" means any written or oral expression, or physical or electronic act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental, or emotional harm to any student. Bullying is prohibited against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of the student's academic performance or against whom federal and state laws prohibit discrimination upon any of the bases described in section 22-32-109 (1)(ll)(I)(A). This definition is not intended to infringe upon any right guaranteed to any person by the first amendment to the United States constitution or to prevent the expression of any religious, political, or philosophical views.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 22-32-109.1 (2020)
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws cover off-campus conduct.
What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?
Colorado school districts must adopt a safe school plan and conduct and discipline code that contains a specific policy addressing bullying prevention and education. At minimum, the policy must:
- Clearly differentiate between a conflict and bullying and between harassment and bullying
- Clarify the role of cyberbullying during online instruction, which may occur on or off school property
Colorado state law requires districts to report annually to the Department of Education the number of conduct and discipline code violations, including the number of incidents of bullying and other behavior that creates a threat of physical harm to the student or to other students. School districts must also report information on the school's policy concerning bullying prevention and education, including information related to the development and implementation of any bullying prevention programs.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws prohibit bullying against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of his or her academic performance, or on the basis of his or her disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services.
Colorado schools that receive federal funding are required by federal law to address discrimination based on certain personal characteristics. Find out when bullying may be a civil rights violation.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?
Yes. Colorado anti-bullying laws encourage districts to implement evidence-based bullying prevention programs by establishing a state-funded bullying prevention and education grant program. Colorado anti-bullying laws also require the Department of Education to create a page on its public website to make available evidence-based practices and other resources for educators and other professionals engaged in bullying prevention and education.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?
No. Colorado anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide training to teachers or other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents. Colorado state law does encourage each school district to implement training and education in the principles and practices of restorative justice as an approach to remediate student offenses, such as bullying.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?
No. Colorado anti-bullying laws do not require districts to provide safeguards of mental health supports for students involved with bullying.
Do Colorado anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?
Yes. Colorado school districts must adopt a safe school plan following consultation with the school district and school accountability committees, parents, teachers, administrators, students, student councils where available, and, where appropriate, the community at large. School districts must also designate a team of persons at each school to advise the school administration concerning the severity and frequency of bullying incidents that occur in the school. Team members may include, but need not be limited to, law enforcement officials, social workers, prosecutors, health professionals, mental health professionals, school psychologists, counselors, teachers, administrators, parents, and students.
For More Information
Visit the Colorado Department of Education's "Bullying Prevention and Education" webpage and/or view the Colorado state model policy on bullying prevention and education.
The key component framework used in the analysis of state laws is based on the review of legislation presented in the "Analysis of State Bullying Laws and Policies – December 2011" (U.S. Department of Education).