There are a variety of legal options available when schools fail to meet their obligations to protect students from bullying, and the best choice depends on the nature of the bullying and your goals.  Possible options include:

• Filing a complaint against the school district with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights

• Filing a lawsuit against the school district and/or school employees

• Filing a lawsuit against the family of the student who has bullied your child

• Pursuing a criminal investigation in extreme cases, such as when your child has been assaulted

This guide focuses on your legal options against school districts and employees, which is the best way for making systemic change to the culture within schools, so they do a better job of preventing and responding to bullying.