My child is being bullied at school — what must the school do?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Under RA 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act of 2013), every elementary and secondary school — public and private — is required to adopt policies to prevent and address bullying, including cyber-bullying, with clear procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents. Its implementing rules (DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2013) require schools to act on reports, keep records, and report incidents to the schools division. Put your report to the school in writing, ask for a copy of the school's anti-bullying policy and the action taken, and if the school fails to act, escalate to the DepEd Schools Division Office and the DepEd action center.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
Is the school legally required to have an anti-bullying policy?
Yes. RA 10627 requires all elementary and secondary schools, public and private, to adopt anti-bullying policies with procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to bullying, including cyber-bullying. The IRR is DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2013.
What should I do first?
Report the incident to the school in writing (teacher, guidance office, or principal), ask for a copy of the anti-bullying policy, and request in writing the action the school will take. Keep dated copies of everything.
The school is ignoring it — where do I escalate?
Escalate to the DepEd Schools Division Office with jurisdiction over the school and the DepEd action center, attaching your written report and the school's response (or lack of one).
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Your rights as a student or parent — whether a school can withhold your transcript (TOR), diploma, or Form 137 over an unpaid balance and how to get your records for transfer, the prior consultation and 70%-to-personnel conditions on any tuition increase (RA 6728), tuition refunds when you withdraw early, who qualifies for free college and the Tertiary Education Subsidy under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931), your right to due process before a school can suspend or expel you (Guzman v. National University), a school's duty to act on bullying (RA 10627, Anti-Bullying Act) and on gender-based sexual harassment (Safe Spaces Act, RA 11313), the prohibition on hazing (RA 8049 as amended by RA 11053), hidden or excessive miscellaneous fees, a revoked scholarship, a school that closes mid-year, and how to file a complaint with CHED (higher ed), DepEd (basic ed), or TESDA (tech-voc).