AWK SURVIVOR ADVOCATE ATTORNEYS
Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination
Bullying, harassment, and discrimination are not “part of growing up” or something your child just has to endure. When schools or districts look the other way, they fail in their basic duty to provide a safe, equal learning environment—and they can be held legally accountable for that failure.
Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination Lawyers for Students
At AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys (AWK SAA), we represent students and families when schools ignore or mishandle bullying, discriminatory harassment, or a hostile environment. Whether the abuse happens in the classroom, on the bus, in the locker room, or online, we help families use civil law to pursue compensation and systemic change.
If your child has been bullied or targeted because of who they are, our team can evaluate whether the school violated state anti‑bullying laws, civil rights protections, or federal laws like Title IX. We build cases designed to hold schools, districts, and other institutions responsible for the harm they allowed to continue.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying in schools occurs when one or more students repeatedly and intentionally cause harm to another student. It can be physical, verbal, social, or digital, and it often creates a hostile environment that interferes with a child’s education.
Bullying can include:
- Hitting, pushing, tripping, or other physical aggression
- Threats, intimidation, or taunting
- Name‑calling, slurs, or cruel “jokes”
- Destroying or stealing personal property
- Intentionally excluding a student from activities or groups
- Spreading rumors or humiliating stories
- Cyberbullying through texts, group chats, or social media, including cruel messages, posts, or doctored images
Bullying can be harmful on its own, and it often overlaps with unlawful harassment or discrimination when it is tied to a student’s identity.
What Is Discriminatory Harassment?
Harassment becomes a civil rights issue when a student is targeted because of a protected characteristic—such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability—and the behavior is severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to create a hostile educational environment.
Examples of discriminatory harassment include:
- Racial slurs, racist jokes, or race‑based threats
- Sex‑based harassment or sexual bullying, including sexual comments or unwanted touching
- Homophobic or transphobic slurs and targeting of LGBTQ+ students
- Harassing a student because of a disability or using disability‑based slurs
- Harassment tied to a student’s religion, culture, or national origin
When schools know about this kind of harassment and respond with indifference or ineffective measures, they may be violating state civil rights laws, New York’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and federal protections like Title IX.
Where Bullying and Harassment Happen
Bullying, harassment, and discrimination can happen:
- In classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, bathrooms, and locker rooms
- On school buses or at bus stops
- During sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities
- On school‑sponsored trips and events
- Online, including social media platforms, group chats, and school‑related apps
Schools are responsible for addressing bullying and harassment they know about—or should know about—when it affects a student’s access to education, even if some of the conduct happens off campus or online.
When Schools Can Be Held Liable
Schools and districts have legal duties under state and federal law to respond to reports of bullying, harassment, and discrimination. They must investigate, take steps to stop the behavior, protect the targeted student, and prevent recurrence.
A school may be legally responsible if it:
- Ignores or minimizes repeated reports of bullying or discriminatory harassment
- Fails to follow its own anti‑bullying or Title IX policies
- Takes superficial steps that don’t actually stop the abuse
- Retaliates against a student or family for reporting harassment or discrimination
- Allows a hostile environment to persist, interfering with the student’s education
In these situations, families may be able to bring civil claims for emotional and psychological harm, medical and counseling costs, and other damages.
What To Do If Your Child Is Being Bullied or Harassed
If your child tells you they are being bullied, harassed, or discriminated against:
Document everything
Save screenshots, emails, messages, photos, and notes about incidents, dates, and witnesses.
Report in writing
Notify the principal or appropriate administrator in writing, describing what is happening and how it affects your child. Ask for a meeting and keep copies of all correspondence.
Follow up
Request information about what steps the school is taking to investigate and protect your child. Document any failures to act or continued incidents.
Seek support
Consider counseling for your child and support from advocacy organizations familiar with school discrimination and Title IX
Consult a lawyer
A civil rights and student‑advocacy attorney can help assess whether the school’s response violates DASA, Title IX, disability laws, or other protections, and whether a civil lawsuit or agency complaint is appropriate.
Acting early can protect your child’s safety and preserve important legal deadlines, including notice‑of‑claim requirements and statutes of limitation.
How AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys Can Help
AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys fights for students whose schools failed to protect them from bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Our team:
- Reviews your child’s experiences, school policies, and all written reports and responses
- Evaluates potential claims under state civil rights laws, DASA, Title IX, disability protections, and common‑law tort claims
- Gathers evidence, including school records, witness statements, and expert support documenting emotional and educational harm
- Pursues civil litigation or agency complaints aimed at compensation, policy changes, and accountability
- Works in a trauma‑informed, child‑centered way, prioritizing your child’s safety, dignity, and long‑term well‑being
If your child has been bullied, harassed, or discriminated against at school and the school did not protect them, AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys can help you understand your legal options and pursue justice for the harm your family has endured.