Tip - Cyberbullying Laws and School Policy: A Blessing or Curse?

Many schools are now in a difficult position of having to respond to a mandate to have a cyberbullying policy, without much guidance from the state about the circumstances under which they can (or must) respond.  When folks ask me if I think there needs to be a "cyberbullying law" I basically respond by saying "perhaps - but not the kind of law most legislators would propose."  I would look for a law to be more "prescriptive" than "proscriptive."  By that, I mean I would like to see specific guidance from states about *how* and *when* schools can take action in cyberbullying incidents.  Many states have taken the easy way out by simply passing laws saying effectively "schools need to deal with this."  Not only have they stopped short in terms of providing specific instructions or even a framework from which schools can evaluate their role, but they have not provided any additional resources to address these issues.  Some states are now requiring schools [...]