Bullying among children and adolescents is a worldwide problem, and children in Delaware are not immune. To combat the negative effects of bullying, Delaware has a school bullying prevention law which requires public schools in the state to adopt policies to address the issue. In 2012, a cyberbullying regulation was added by the DDOE so that schools can also address both on and off-campus instances of electronic bullying that are reasonably likely to limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the educational programs of the school. The DDOE randomly audits schools each year for compliance with our state law and regulation on bullying and cyberbullying. The results are included in the Annual Report on Bullying in Delaware Public Schools.

Additionally, the Delaware Department of Justice has a School Ombudsman who can assist with bullying issues. The hotline number is 1-800-220-5414. The bullying resources located on this site can assist students, parents, and school personnel to better understand processes and programs to effectively address the issue of bullying within the school environment.