School Jurisdiction Over Cyberbullying

California law gives schools authority to discipline cyberbullying even when it occurs off-campus if:

• It creates a substantial disruption to school operations
• It interferes with a student's right to learn
• The behavior has a nexus (connection) to school

Types of Cyberbullying

• Direct attacks — Threatening messages, hateful posts
• Outing/doxing — Sharing private information or images
• Exclusion — Deliberately excluding from group chats or online spaces
• Impersonation — Creating fake profiles or accounts
• Flaming — Online arguments designed to provoke
• Image-based abuse — Non-consensual sharing of intimate images

Response Protocol

Immediate Steps

1. Preserve evidence — Screenshots, URLs, timestamps (don't advise deleting)
2. Assess severity — Is there an imminent safety threat?
3. If threat exists — Contact law enforcement immediately
4. Provide support — Check on the target's emotional wellbeing

Investigation

1. Document all evidence of cyberbullying
2. Interview involved students
3. Determine whether the conduct meets the legal definition of bullying
4. Consider whether the conduct constitutes a crime (threats, harassment, distribution of intimate images)

Resolution

1. Apply appropriate consequences to the perpetrator
2. Require removal of harmful content if possible
3. Create a monitoring and safety plan
4. Involve families in the resolution process
5. Refer to law enforcement if criminal conduct is involved

Prevention Education

• Digital citizenship curriculum for all students
• Regular conversations about online behavior and empathy
• Bystander intervention training
• Parent education on monitoring and supporting their children online