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Bill

SB 264

Individualized education programs; guidelines/materials for students for addressing bullying, etc.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Stanley

Virginia requires schools to include bullying prevention guidelines and materials in special education IEPs for students with disabilities.

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Bill Summary · SB 264

Legislative bill overview

SB 264 requires Virginia schools to incorporate guidelines and materials addressing bullying into Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for eligible students. The bill mandates that schools provide resources and strategies to help students with disabilities navigate bullying situations as part of their special education planning.

Why is this important

Students with disabilities experience bullying at higher rates than their non-disabled peers, yet many IEPs don't explicitly address this issue. Formalizing anti-bullying guidance in IEPs could improve school safety, mental health outcomes, and academic success for vulnerable students while clarifying school responsibilities under special education law.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource burden: Schools may argue the mandate increases administrative costs and IEP development time without additional funding
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's language about "guidelines and materials" may be unclear—whether schools must create new resources or can use existing ones affects implementation complexity
  • One-size-fits-all concerns: Critics may question whether mandating bullying content in all IEPs is appropriate versus making it case-by-case based on individual student needs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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