If a school district does not have a bullying policy, the school district shall follow the model bullying policy in § 13-32-19t until such time as the school district adopts its own bullying policy. Nothing in §§ 113-32-14 to 13-32-19, inclusive, supplants or preempts an existing school district policy, except that no school district policy prohibiting bullying, whether it is existing or adopted pursuant to §§ 113-32-14 to 13-32-19, inclusive, may contain any protected classes of students.

Each school district policy developed pursuant to §§13-32-14 to 13-32-19, inclusive, shall contain the following provisions: (1) A statement prohibiting bullying and a definition of bullying that includes the definition listed in §13-32-15; (2) A description of the type of behavior expected from each student of the school district, and the consequences for a student of the school district who commits an act of bullying; (3) A procedure for reporting an act of bullying, including provisions that permit a person to anonymously report such an act, although formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on an anonymous report; and (4) A procedure for the prompt investigation and response to any report of bullying, including a requirement that an investigation be conducted on any alleged incident of bullying committed against a child while the child is aboard a school bus, at a school bus stop, or at a school-sponsored event.

State DOE encourages schools to adopt anti-bullying policies that align with the state's model and codified guidelines