Who can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights?

Anyone can file; you do not have to be the person who was harmed. OCR handles complaints about discriminatory harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.

Is there a deadline to file an OCR complaint?

A complaint must ordinarily be filed within 180 days of the last act of discrimination, though you can request a waiver for good cause. Dated records help you track this.

Can I file with OCR while the school is still investigating?

Yes. You can file even while the school's own process is still going.

Filing a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

How to file a civil-rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

When bullying is discriminatory harassment — based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability — you can file a complaint with OCR. Anyone may file; you don't have to be the person who was harmed.

Before you file

Have your dated record ready: dates, places, what was said and done, and who you told.
Note the protected characteristic and what ties the conduct to it.
You can file even while the school's own process is still going.

The 180-day rule

A complaint must ordinarily be filed within 180 days of the last act of discrimination (you can request a waiver for good cause). Dated entries matter — the guided investigator tracks how long it's been since the last incident.

How to file

1
Gather the facts
Your contact info; the school's name, city, and state; and a description of what happened, when it happened, and the basis (the protected characteristic).
2
Submit it
File online through the OCR complaint portal, or email a signed complaint to ocr@ed.gov.
3
OCR evaluates it
OCR decides whether to open an investigation and may seek a resolution with the school.

A well-formed StopBullyingPro record — dated, factual, location-specific, with the basis flagged — is exactly the kind of description OCR asks for.

Authoritative sources

Frequently asked questions

Who can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights?: Anyone can file; you do not have to be the person who was harmed. OCR handles complaints about discriminatory harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.
Is there a deadline to file an OCR complaint?: A complaint must ordinarily be filed within 180 days of the last act of discrimination, though you can request a waiver for good cause. Dated records help you track this.
Can I file with OCR while the school is still investigating?: Yes. You can file even while the school's own process is still going.

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General information — not legal advice

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

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