School & Education

If a child is being bullied, there are steps parents and guardians can take at the outset. First, it is important to listen to the child and encourage them to be open about what has happened, while being supportive and comforting. Remind them that they are not in trouble. Building a good rapport with children and teens and encouraging open communication can increase the likelihood that they will tell their parents if something is happening or if they need help. If the child has been physically injured, seeing a doctor or going to the emergency room may be needed. If they are experiencing emotional or psychological issues, it may be appropriate to contact a mental health practitioner.

It is important to document incidents of bullying as they are reported. This includes information about:

• Who was doing the bullying,
• What happened (description of bullying),
• When and where the bullying occurred,
• Whether there were other adults or children who were present or witnessed the bullying,
• Injuries the child may have received,
• Property that may have been lost or destroyed,
• Which adults were notified of the bullying, and 
• Any evidence of the bullying that exists (screenshots, photos, videos, or other evidence from the incident or immediately after).

If bullying includes explicit threats or criminal behavior, law enforcement may need to be involved. This includes physical assault, threats of violence, distributing explicit images of children, stalking, and harassment.

If the bullying does not rise to the level of a crime, the student and their parents have other options to consider, such as:

• Talking to a teacher, school counselor, or school administrator if the bullying happened on school property;
• Reporting the bullying to a school if the bullying happened on school property;
• Reporting the bullying to Safe2Help Illinois at 844-4-SAFEIL (723345) or text SAFE2 (72332); or
• Seeking a civil protective order through the court system without any criminal charges.

In addition, reports of cyberbullying can be made to the online platform on which the cyberbullying happens:

• YouTube,  
• TikTok, 
• Snapchat, 
• Instagram,  
• Facebook, 
• Discord, 
• X/Twitter, 
• Xbox, and
• PlayStation.      

For more information about technology hygiene and handling cyberbullying, visit Project Safety Net.

If a student has been bullied at school, the first step is to find the school’s bullying policy and who to report it to. The school’s bullying policy will be on the school website, in the student handbook, or in the yearly student registration materials. If you cannot locate it, contact the school directly, as all schools in Illinois are required to have a policy. Some online policies include:

• Chicago Public Schools Policy 
• Rockford Public Schools Student Handbook 
• Indian Prairie School District 204 Bullying Policy
• School District U 46 Online Reporting Form 
• Plainfield School District 202 Bullying Information

The policy will identify a staff member to report bullying to, but bullying can also be reported to administrators. The school will then conduct its investigation. After the investigation, the school will determine if remedial action is needed. Anonymous complaints are allowed but cannot result in disciplinary action. 

If a parent or bullying survivor is unsatisfied with the results of the school’s investigation, they may:

• File a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The ISBE is in charge of overseeing school bullying policies and is only responsible for school district compliance. If a complaint is filed, the ISBE’s duty is to ensure that schools are complying with state law and the model bullying policy. ISBE can be reached by phone at (217) 785-5585 or by email [email protected]. 
• Contact their local board of education. 

If the bullying is also discriminatory in nature and the school does not act, a complaint may be filed with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within 180 days of the incident.  This includes bullying based on:

• Race, color, national origin, or ancestry;
• Sex;
• Disability; or
• Age.

Contacting a lawyer for further options or to file a lawsuit is a good idea. You can use Get Legal Help to find a free legal aid lawyer or private lawyer referral near you.