Colorado Model Bullying Prevention and Education Policy

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Overview

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is authorized by C.R.S. 22-2-144, also known as "Ashawnty's Law," with developing a model bullying prevention and education policy (Model Policy). The purpose of the Model Policy is to provide guidance to school districts, charter schools, and the Charter School Institute when developing bullying prevention and education policies. As per the law, the development of the Model Policy is informed by research on the approaches, policies, and practices related to bullying prevention and education used by education providers in other states. CDE is required to update the research and policy every three years.

In 2021, the Colorado Legislature passed HB 21-1221, also known as "Jack and Cait's Law." This law requires CDE to use a "stakeholder process" when updating the Model Policy and that parents of students who have been bullied must be included in the process. Additionally, this law states that the policy concerning bullying prevention and education for all school districts in Colorado "shall ensure that the school district's policy, at a minimum, incorporates approaches, policies, and practices outlined in the model bullying prevention and education policy developed pursuant to section 22-2-144." 

Model Policy

The Colorado Model Bullying Prevention and Education Policy can be found in the Colorado Bullying Prevention and Education Best Practices and Model Policy document below. The use of a best practices guide is an approach taken by many states to provide evidence-based resources to put the model policy in context. Additional bullying prevention resources can be found on the CDE Bullying Prevention Resources web page. 

• NEW  2025 Colorado Bullying Prevention and Education Best Practices and Model Policy (PDF)

Contact
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please send an email to: ModelPolicyFeedback@cde.state.co.us