New Illinois Law Targets Cyber Bullying

Students, be careful what you post online.

A new Illinois law allows school boards to expel or suspend any student who makes a threat against school personnel, or other students via websites. 

Co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Sandra Pihos (R-Glen Ellyn) said this is just a "babystep" to stop cyber bullying. Concerned with infringing on First Amendment rights, Pihos said this bill is a "little soft," but has enough teeth to provide school boards with direction on how to deal with students who make explicit threats online. 

Students will get in trouble if they make a statement online that "could reasonably be interpreted as threatening," according to the language of the law. The threat must also be made on a website, so a threatening email exchange between students will not be punishable under this law, according to Pihos. The language of the bill states a student will face repercussions if they, 

"have made an explicit threat on an internet website that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and the threat could reasonably be interpreted as threatening..." 

The law, however, is vague and leaves it to be interpreted as to where the threat can originate for grounds of expulsion or suspension.

Cyberbullying Resources for Burr Ridge Schools

Burr Ridge schools already have cyber bullying policies in place and have established procedures for reporting it. According to the website,

"We believe a student's right to feel safe in school is paramount and contributes significantly to his or her capacity for learning and social development. Currently, District 86 schools have a protocol for reporting bullying and dealing with offenders which largely calls on students to approach adults and describe the incident."

District 86 has established online reporting forms for both and , hotlines for each school and email addresses to report bullying and cyberbullying.

At , the district has established text lines, online reporting forms and voicemails for both and s to report bullying. Students at Burr Ridge Middle School have created and posted anti-bullying flyers, which are posted throughout the school's hallways.

issued a statement at the beginning of the school year, notifying parents of efforts to prevent bullying. Both Pleasantdale Elementary and have Social Emotional Learning programs in place to teach students positive behaviors and bullying prevention strategies.

also has SEL programs in place and a page offering parents resources for more information on where to get help if their children experience problems.

According to 's mission statement, the Gower district is "committed to fully developing each child as an engaged learner and as a active caring citizen in a safe and respectful environment." Two fifth graders recently won a contest for a video they produced against cyberbullying.

In District 204, Lyons Township High School parents and students must sign a Network Access Form that acknowledges that cyberbullying is an unacceptable use of school Internet resources.

Although there have been cyber bullying cases around the country, Pihos said there are no local incidents that lead her to co-sponsor this bill. As a former school teacher, she was aware of bullying but says it is has only gotten worse with the help of the internet. Pihos said she hopes students learn at an early age the dangers of the internet and what they post online is captured in time forever.