Understanding School Bullying and Your Child’s Rights in NYC

Michele Mirman | Abuse Awareness | January 12, 2026

I’ve been reading about the worsening bullying problem in NYC schools. Students say they feel unsafe. Parents share their fear. Too many kids report harassment, intimidation, and violence at school and online. A recent city survey showed 51% of NYC students say bullying and harassment happen often at their schools. Many kids say they feel unsafe every day. These numbers are alarming. And they show this problem isn’t rare — it’s widespread. School bullying includes name-calling, threats, intimidation, exclusion, and physical harm. These behaviors start on school property, during school activities when bullies target their victims and then spread to online attacks. When bullying is not stopped in its tracks by the adults in charge and repeats over time unstopped, the tremendous harm to our children deepens.

What New York Law Says About Bullying

In New York, the New York anti-bullying laws require schools to provide a safe educational environment free from harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and school bullying. 

The Dignity for All Students Act mandates that schools adopt clear anti-bullying policies. Schools must define harassment and bullying and explain how to prevent and respond to incidents. These protections apply to conduct based on race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other protected characteristics. 

Cyberbullying in schools — bullying through technology or social media — is covered under this law if it creates a disruption at school or reaches school property. 

Schools must designate staff to receive reports of bullying. They must investigate complaints quickly and document them. They also must train teachers and staff on how to respond. 

These legal requirements matter. They tell schools what they must do. But enforcement isn’t automatic. Parents and guardians need to know how to work with schools when incidents occur.

What School Bullying Really Does to Students

Short-Term Effects

School bullying is more than an unpleasant experience. It can lead to anxiety, fear, and depression. Children suffer eating and sleeping disorders.They avoid school. Their social life disappears. Their grades suffer; their self-esteem suffers; they are isolated. Children have turned to self-harm, cutting and suicide. School is supposed to be a place for learning — not fear.

Physical bullying leaves visible wounds. But emotional and verbal bullying can leave deep unseen scars. When young people feel unsafe at school, they cannot focus or thrive.

Long-Term Effects

Long after the bullying stops, the harm can persist. Bullying increases the risk for long-term psychological issues. Victims may struggle with self-esteem, trust, and relationships later in life. They are more likely to suffer depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

I have listened to parents describe how their child changed after months of bullying. Once cheerful kids became withdrawn, afraid of hallways, and anxious about schoolwork. This pain is real and lasting.

Cyberbullying in Schools and Beyond

Cyberbullying, technology-based aggression, in schools adds complexity. It doesn’t end when the school day ends. It reaches phones, social media, messaging apps, and home spaces. Hurtful messages, rumors, and threats can spread 24/7.

Although digital harassment often takes place off campus, New York law covers it when it affects a student’s school environment or creates a foreseeable disruption at school. 

This matters because schools sometimes claim they have no authority when bullying happens online. But if the conduct reaches school property or disrupts learning, the law says schools must act. And, we must remember that the victims are not pulled out of thin air from cyber space: they are chosen and targeted by bullies at schools, right under the adults’’ noses. Where are those adults? The anti-bullying programs? The safe spaces for child-victims to seek the help of the adults?

How Parents Should Respond

1. Communicate With the School

As a parent, your first step is to talk with school staff. Tell them what happened and how often. Ask for a Dignity Act coordinator — a staff member trained to handle bullying reports. 

Ask about the school’s anti-bullying policy, how incidents are investigated, and what steps the school plans to take. Schools must follow procedures and document their actions. They are obligated to protect your child.

2. Report Every Incident

Filing a formal complaint matters. In NYC public schools, you can submit a complaint in multiple ways: online, by phone, or by email. Schools must notify you of the report number and follow up within a specific time frame. 

Concrete details help: who was involved, where it happened, what was said or done, and whether there were any witnesses. Keep a record of these reports.

3. Know Your Legal Rights

If a school fails to address bullying effectively, your child may suffer both physical and emotional injury. Schools have legal duties under the Dignity Act and other policies to respond reasonably and promptly to incidents. 

Families may explore legal options, including civil claims. Bullying that results in  physical or psychological injury may be actionable.

What Schools Are Required to Do

• Training and Prevention – New York anti-bullying laws require teachers and staff to be trained. Schools must teach students about safety and respect. Policies must include prevention strategies.
  
• Investigations and Actions – Once bullying is reported, schools must investigate promptly. They must take reasonable steps to stop the behavior, prevent recurrence, and ensure the safety of the targeted student.
  
• No Retaliation- Law forbids retaliation against anyone who reports bullying. This includes students, parents, and staff. 

These requirements are not suggestions. They are legal obligations.

When and Why Legal Action May Be Needed

When a student is physically injured or emotionally harmed because the school failed to act, parents should think about what comes next.

Negligence may occur when:

• The school knew about the bullying and did little or nothing  to stop it.
  
• The school failed to follow its own anti-bullying policy.
  
• The school’s response worsened the harm.
  

In such situations, an experienced attorney can explain the rights and options available to your family.

Hope Through Awareness and Action

School bullying is not just a “phase” or “kids being kids.” It is a serious issue that affects learning, safety, and lifelong well-being. Thanks to laws like the Dignity for All Students Act and New York anti-bullying laws, students have important protections. 

But laws only work when schools understand them and use them. 

At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., you don’t have to face this alone. If your child has been harmed by bullying—through physical injury, emotional trauma, disruption to daily life, or the need for medical care or therapy—there may be legal options available. Your child may be entitled to compensation for the harm they’ve endured. Whether the bullying occurred recently or in the past, your concerns matter and deserve to be taken seriously. Contact me, Michele Mirman, at (212) 227-4000 or visit mirmanlawyers.com to schedule a free, confidential consultation.