Oklahoma Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies

Components of State Anti-Bullying Laws and Regulations

Which Oklahoma laws and regulations cover bullying?

• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 21, §48-1190. Hazing – Prohibition – Presumption as forced activity – Penalty – Definition
• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 70, §24-100.2. Short title- School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act
• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 70, §24-100.3. School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act- Purpose and Definitions
• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 70, §24-100.4. School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act – Discipline of child – Prohibition of bullying at school and online- Policy requirements
• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 70, §24-100.5. Safe School Committees- Model Policy
• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 70, §24-100.6. Right of student victims to be separated from offender – Notice to school district of juvenile sex offender identity- school attendance of juvenile sex offender
• Oklahoma Statute Annotated Title 70, §24-100.7. Suicide awareness and drug use policies – Immunity from employment discipline and civil liability – Cause of action limitations – Duty to notify parents or legal guardians.
• Oklahoma Administrative Code §210:10-1-18. Transfers
• Oklahoma Administrative Code §210:10-1-20. Implementation of policies prohibiting bullying

How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations?

Oklahoma anti-bullying laws include the following definition of bullying or harassing behavior:

“Bullying” means any pattern of harassment, intimidation, threatening behavior, physical acts, verbal or electronic communication directed toward a student or group of students that results in or is reasonably perceived as being done with the intent to cause negative educational or physical results for the targeted individual or group and is communicated in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student.

Okla. Stat. tit. 70 § 24-100.3 (2013)

Do Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations cover cyberbullying that occurs off-campus?

No. Oklahoma anti-bullying laws do not cover off-campus conduct.

What are the policy requirements for schools to prevent and respond to bullying behavior?

Oklahoma school districts must adopt a policy for the discipline of all children attending public school and for the investigation of report incidents of bullying. School district policies must contain key policy and procedural elements, including, but not limited to:

• Procedures for reporting and investigations, including procedures for reporting to local law enforcement;
• Statements of consequences for violation of the policy;
• Statements of how the policy will be publicized within the district.
• Procedures for notifying the parents or guardians for a victim and the parents or guardians of a perpetrator;
• Designation of the school official responsible for enforcing the policy;
• Requirements for annual training of administrators and school employees;
• Provisions for educational programming for students and parents in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying;
• Procedures for referral to delinquency prevention and diversion programs for students who bullying;
• Disciplinary consequences and remedial actions for persons who commit acts of bullying,
• Strategies for providing counseling or referral to appropriate services for both targets and perpetrators and family members affected by bullying; and
• Procedures for documenting and reporting the number of bullying incidents.

Oklahoma anti-bullying laws require districts to implement district policies throughout the school year and in a manner that is integrated with other violence prevention efforts. Oklahoma anti-bullying laws require the State Board of Education to monitor school district compliance, provide sanctions for non-compliance, create a central repository for the collection of information on verified incidents of bullying, and publish annual incident reports.

Do Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations include protections for specific groups?

No. There are no specific groups listed under Oklahoma anti-bullying laws or regulations.

Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies?

Yes. Oklahoma anti-bullying laws require districts to provide educational programming developed by the state for students and parents in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.

Do Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to respond to bullying incidents?

Yes. Oklahoma anti-bullying laws require districts to provide annual training for administrators and school employees in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.

Do Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?

Yes. Oklahoma school district policies must include a strategy for providing counseling or referral to appropriate services, including guidance, academic intervention, and other protection for students, both targets and perpetrators, and family members affected by bullying. School district policies must establish a procedure whereby, upon completing an investigation of bullying, a school may recommend that available community mental health care, substance abuse, or other counseling options be provided to the student, if appropriate. District policies must also allow a student who has been the victim of harassment, intimidation, or bullying to transfer to another school district.

Do Oklahoma anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?

Yes. Oklahoma anti-bullying laws require boards of education to make an effort to involve teachers, parents, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, local law enforcement agencies, and students in developing bullying policies. Oklahoma anti-bullying laws also require districts to provide educational programming for parents in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.

For More Information

Visit the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s “Bullying Prevention” webpage and/or view the Oklahoma state model policy on bullying and harassment.

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).