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 Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills Schools

Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills 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.

 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.

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.