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Bullying at school isn’t just mean; it’s prohibited by state law. Sure, kids will be kids, but at a certain point harassing behavior crosses the line of what is allowed at school. No parent wants to see their child bullied at school, and as a mother of three kids in public school, I know it can be difficult to know when to get involved and when to let your child work through their own battles. But as a lawyer, my advice is to always get involved when your child is bullied to the point where it significantly interferes with your child’s education or psychological well-being. At that point, parents should get a copy of the school’s anti-bullying policy, which each Oregon school is required to have pursuant to state law. These policies can usually be found in the student handbook or on the school website, and they must lay out in detail the process for reporting bullying and cyberbullying, including 1) which school official is responsible for receiving reports, 2) what type of investigation will be conducted, and 3) what consequences and punishment will be imposed if the reports are substantiated. School districts that do not comply with these requirements may have their funding withheld by the state. However, schools are usually very responsive about investigating such reports and taking appropriate action to stop bullying.