David’s Law (SB 179) is the name of the Texas law which was designed to hold students more accountable for actions which constitute confirmed bullying, including cyberbullying. Here is a summary of the major points of David’s Law:

The Law defines bullying as “a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct.”

The Law also includes cyberbullying that occurs off school property if the cyberbullying “interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.”

Students who engage in bullying may be subject to criminal action (under Section 22.01, or 42.07(a) (7), Penal Code) as well as placement in a DAEP or possible expulsion, if a student:

• Engages in bullying that encourages a student to commit or attempt to commit suicide;

• Incites violence against a student through group bullying;

• Releases or threatens to release intimate visual material of a minor or a student who is 18 years of age or older without the student’s consent.

Another requirement of David’s Law is that every campus must have a process for reporting potential bullying situations anonymously. Abilene ISD has established an anonymous form called SPEAK UP.

Some examples of reasons to reach out for help for yourself or others are

• bullying

• violence

• personal health

• suicide prevention

• a crisis at home.

If this is an emergency or life-threatening to the student or others, please call 911.