N.Y. Education Law § 21: Bullying and harassment prevention and response

§ 21. Bullying and harassment prevention and response. 1. No student

shall be subjected to harassment or bullying, including cyberbullying,

by other students on school property or at a school function.

2. Every school, subject to this section, shall adopt a written in

plain-language and age-appropriate anti-bullying and harassment policy,

which must be published on the school's website or internal

parent/student portal and shared annually with employees, parents, and

students. Such policy shall include but not be limited to information on

how bullying and harassment is defined, how incidents will be reported,

investigated, and documented, and an age-appropriate process for

notifying the victim about the final outcome of the investigation.

3. School employees who witness bullying or harassment, or receive an

oral or written report of bullying or harassment, shall promptly notify

the principal or head of school or the principal's or head of school's

designee, orally not later than one school day after such school

employee witnesses or receives a report of bullying and harassment, and

must file a written report with the principal or head of school's

designee not later than two school days after making the initial oral

report.

4. Upon a report of bullying, harassment, or retaliation, the

principal or head of school, or the principal or head of school's

designee, must investigate promptly, communicate their findings with the

victim and take immediate steps and appropriate follow-up action

reasonably calculated to ensure that such conduct has stopped and ensure

the safety of the student or students including retaliation against any

individual who in good faith reports such bullying or assists in the

investigation.