The school says they’re “handling it” but nothing changes. What do I do?

Put your concern in writing, ask what the anti-bullying policy requires and by when, and request the outcome in writing. A dated record and written requests make it much harder to dismiss, and they set up an escalation to the district or the Office for Civil Rights if needed.

Should I contact the other child’s parents?

That’s your call, but the more reliable path is documenting and reporting through the school, which has a duty to investigate and respond. Keep your record factual and avoid accusations about a named child.

Bullying help for parents

You’re the one who has to push this forward — but you don’t have to do it from memory or alone. This is the path from “something’s wrong” to a dated, factual record the school has to take seriously.

What to do

1
Document each incident while it’s fresh
Date, time, place, who was involved, exactly what was said or done, and who witnessed it. A dated, factual record is what a school can’t dismiss.
2
Report in writing
Email the teacher or principal so there’s a timestamp and a paper trail — not just a hallway conversation.
3
Watch for the rights angle
If your child is targeted because of race, national origin, sex, disability, or religion, the school may have extra legal duties.
4
Prepare for the meeting
Walk in with two or three objectives, your evidence in order, and specific requests — and recap it in writing afterward.
5
Escalate if it isn’t resolved
Teacher → principal → district → the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, depending on the situation.

In-depth guides

How to document bullying

A step-by-step guide to documenting bullying incidents so schools, districts, and officials take them seriously — contemporaneous, factual, specific, and dated.

What to say to a principal

Calm, factual scripts for reporting bullying to a principal — how to open the conversation, state the facts, and ask for specific action and a timeline.

Prepare for a school meeting

Walk into a meeting with the principal, counselor, or district organized: objectives, an evidence summary, the actions you're requesting, and the questions to ask.

FERPA records request

FERPA gives parents the right to inspect their child's education records — including the school's own incident and investigation files. How to request them.

Protected-class harassment

When bullying targets a child's race, national origin, sex, disability, or religion, it can become civil-rights harassment with real duties for the school.

Free tools for this

Frequently asked questions

The school says they’re “handling it” but nothing changes. What do I do?: Put your concern in writing, ask what the anti-bullying policy requires and by when, and request the outcome in writing. A dated record and written requests make it much harder to dismiss, and they set up an escalation to the district or the Office for Civil Rights if needed.
Should I contact the other child’s parents?: That’s your call, but the more reliable path is documenting and reporting through the school, which has a duty to investigate and respond. Keep your record factual and avoid accusations about a named child.

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Authoritative sources

General information — not legal advice

This page is general information to help you get organized, not legal or mental-health advice, and it doesn't guarantee any outcome. Laws and policies vary and change. For your specific situation, consult a licensed professional or the relevant agency. In an emergency call 911; for a mental-health crisis call or text 988.

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