Racism Free Schools Law and Bullying Prevention Data Collection Guidance
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is tasked with implementing data provisions of two recent Public Acts -- the Racism-Free Schools Law (Public Act 103-0472) and Bullying Prevention (105 ILCS 5/27-23.7), as modified for data collection per PA 103-0047). These Public Acts require that, starting with the 2024-25 school year, all Illinois school districts; charter schools; and nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary schools collect, maintain, and submit to ISBE non-identifiable data pertaining to incidents of bullying, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
ISBE is providing the spreadsheet and this guidance before the start of the school year so that administrators can collect their data beginning on the first day of school. This proactive approach will help ensure comprehensive and accurate reporting. Please ensure that your school administrators and staff are aware of these new requirements and are prepared to begin data collection at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
105 ILCS 5/27-23.7
As per
105 ILCS 5/27-23.7(d), all public school districts; charter schools; and nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary and secondary schools must create, maintain, and implement a policy on bullying that meets specific requirements outlined in the section. Policies created under this section must be filed with ISBE every two years based on the date the policy was created or most recently reviewed/reevaluated by the school’s/district’s administration. Each year, ISBE identifies entities whose policy is up for review and notifies the entity that they must file an updated policy; policies are due by September 30 of the subject year. If an entity fails to file a policy by the deadline, ISBE shall request the policy in writing within 14 days of the request. If after 14 days the entity fails to file a policy, ISBE shall publish notice of the noncompliance on its website. Questions regarding this mandate can be directed to
bullyingpolicy@isbe.net or 217-782-5270.
Bullying, including cyber-bullying, is defined in 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7 as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
- placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property;
- causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health;
- substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or
- substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
Bullying may take various forms, including but not limited to harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.
“Cyber-bullying” means bullying using technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photo optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. "Cyber-bullying" includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. "Cyber-bullying" also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.
