Cyberbullying: off-campus acts: model policy.

Assembly Member Lowenthal's cyberbullying legislation directs the California Department of Education to create a model policy addressing off-campus cyberbullying incidents that create hostile educational environments. The policy, due by June 30, 2026, will outline how schools may respond to cyberbullying occurring outside school hours when incidents are severe or pervasive enough to negatively impact the learning environment.

The department's model policy development process will incorporate existing educational frameworks, including Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, restorative justice practices, and trauma-informed approaches. The policy must establish specific criteria for determining what constitutes an intimidating educational environment and define standards for assessing the severity of cyberbullying incidents. While local educational agencies will be authorized to address qualifying off-campus cyberbullying cases, the legislation explicitly states they cannot be held liable for choosing not to intervene.

By July 1, 2027, all school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools serving grades 4-12 must adopt either the state's model policy or develop their own policy with stakeholder input. Each agency must post their adopted policy on both district and individual school websites. The Commission on State Mandates will determine whether local agencies qualify for state reimbursement of costs associated with implementing these new requirements.