For many students in California, school is not a place of learning or belonging. Instead, it can be a place of fear and seclusion. Statewide data shows that bullying and harassment remain common in California schools, with particularly serious consequences for students with disabilities.
When bullying interferes with a child’s ability to learn, participate, and access their education, schools can be held responsible for their failure to provide a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE). Understanding what the data shows is a critical first step toward holding schools accountable and protecting students’ educational rights.
How Common Is Bullying in California Schools?
Bullying is legally defined as repetitive behaviors intended to cause harm through an imbalance of power.
The most comprehensive statewide data demonstrating the frequency of bullying in California schools comes from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), administered by WestEd for the California Department of Education. CHKS findings from its 2023-2025 report shows that bullying and harassment affect students across all grade levels and school settings.
The 2017-2019 CalSchls survey of California students found that more than one in four students in grades 7, 9, and 11 had been bullied or harassed at school. In the same survey, school staff reported that about 20% of elementary school staff and 44% of middle school staff identified bullying and harassment as a moderate or severe problem at their schools. These figures demonstrate that bullying often begins early and can persist throughout a student’s educational experience wihtout timely and effective intervention.
Bias-Based Bullying in California Schools
Bullying is often rooted in bias or perceived differences. California students report being targeted because of race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability status. Bias-based bullying is especially harmful because it reinforces exclusion and stigma, often affecting students who already face systemic barriers in educational settings.
Students with disabilities remain among the highest-risk group for bullying in a school environment. A number of factors, including physical vulnerability, social skill challenges, communication differences, or intolerant environments, may increase the risk of bullying and harassment among school-aged students.
Bullying and Students With Disabilities
When it comes to bullying, students with disabilities are among the most vulnerable populations in California schools. According to CHKS data, approximately 2–3% of students in grades 7, 9, and 11 reported being bullied specifically because of a disability. While this percentage seems small, it likely underrepresents the true scope of the problem. Underreporting, communication barriers, and inadequate school response contribute to the lack of accurate data and effective resolution of bullying incidents involving students with disabilities.
Reports from the U.S. Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consistently find that students with disabilities are two to three times more likely to be bullied than students without disabilities. National research published by the University of Virginia in 2025 found that students with disabilities are 282% more likely to be bullied overall because of their disability, with greater severity and long-term impact.
For students with disabilities, research consistently links the effects of bullying to anxiety, depression, regression in academic or behavioral skills, school avoidance, and disruption to required special education services and supports. In California and nationwide, bullying remains a systemic issue that requires active oversight, enforcement of education laws, and accountability.
Cyberbullying and Electronic Harassment
The California School Boards Association reported that one in three students aged 12-17 and one in six students aged 6-11 reported that someone had made threatening or embarrassing statements about them via email, direct messaging, social media, message boards, or text messages. For students with disabilities, cyberbullying often targets learning differences, speech patterns, or social challenges, intensifying both emotional distress and educational impact beyond school grounds.
The Legal Framework Protecting California Students
The California Education Code broadly defines bullying as physical, verbal, social, and electronic acts and requires school districts to adopt clear policies and procedures for prevention, reporting, and response.
Under federal law, students with disabilities are protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Schools have a legal obligation to ensure that bullying does not interfere with a student’s right to a Free Appropriate Public Education.
California law also recognizes cyberbullying as a form of school-related harassment when it impacts a student’s educational environment, requiring schools to appropriately investigate and respond.
When bullying is based on disability and a school fails to take prompt and effective action, that failure may constitute a denial of FAPE. Schools must not only stop the bullying but also address its educational impact and provide appropriate supports to ensure continued educational access and progress. When schools minimize reports, delay intervention, or fail to provide appropriate accommodations or services, families may need to take formal legal action to protect their child’s rights.
Seek Legal Support For School Bullying
Every student has the right to a safe, inclusive learning environment. For families of students with disabilities, understanding California school bullying statistics and legal protections can support informed advocacy and decision-making.
Education laws exist to protect students and families who remain vulnerable in California school districts. Education rights attorney Jennifer Chang advocates aggressively to ensure schools are held accountable when those protections are ignored.
To learn more about The Law Offices of Jennifer Chang or to schedule a time to discuss your case, contact our offices today.