DE HB268

Expands the definition of bullying to include acts targeting students, school volunteers, or employees based on race, age, marital status, creed, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or national origin.

Requires schools to investigate whether bullying targets were selected wholly or in part due to protected characteristics and to report all bullying incidents to the Department of Education within 5 working days, regardless of whether substantiated.

Mandates schools post the Department of Justice School Ombudsman's telephone number and contact information prominently on websites, in handbooks, and in physical locations accessible to parents, students, faculty, and staff.

Requires the Department of Education to conduct random audits of schools for compliance with bullying reporting procedures and to publish annual reports summarizing all reported and substantiated bullying incidents on its website.

Allows charter schools to submit policies via district websites rather than physical copies and requires policy revisions to be submitted within 30 days of board approval.