VIRGINIA – As students across Southwest Virginia head back to school, families may be preparing for more than homework, sports and new routines. For some students, returning to the classroom can also mean dealing with bullying.
But what counts as bullying and what happens when it is reported can be confusing for families.
Dr. Rachel Gagin, a pediatrician with Carilion Children’s, said bullying is something families should be prepared to discuss with their children.
“Bullying happens and it’s not a question of if, it’s when,” said Dr. Gagin.
Gagin said families can prepare by practicing difficult conversations with their children, making sure they know which trusted adults they can turn to and modeling kind behavior.
“We can show our kids—more than just talk about it—how to handle awkward situations. Certainly communication is not easy, but giving our kids the ability and the confidence to say, ‘This is not right. This is not okay,’” said Gagin.
The issue is widespread across the Commonwealth, with a local case thrown into the national spotlight after the death of 10-year-old Autumn Bushman. She took her own life last year after her family said she was bullied at school.
A proposed Virginia law named in Bushman’s honor would make aggravated bullying a crime. The legislation has been continued to the 2027 General Assembly session.
A 2025 Virginia School Survey found that 49.5% of students in grades 6-8 reported bullying was a problem in their schools. By comparison, 13.2% of school staff said bullying was a problem.
Current Virginia law requires school boards to adopt policies prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying, including conduct that occurs off campus. The law also requires a principal or administrator to notify parents of an allegation of bullying within 24 hours and provide resources to victims.
However, how complaints are investigated and what consequences follow can vary from district to district and from case to case.
“It is causing disruptions into the school day. It’s causing students to not want to come to school, which is the last thing that we want,” said Pulaski County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Graham.
He said there can be confusion among families about what constitutes bullying.
“We really want to hear more from our community and try to help them understand, you know, what bullying is and the damage that it can do to our entire student population, to our staff,” Graham said.
With school divisions restricting cell phone use during the school day, school leaders said bullying often begins outside the classroom, making it important for families to pay attention to what is happening online and among their children’s peers.
Sarah Williams is the school counseling coordinator at Lucy Addison Middle School for Roanoke City Public Schools. She said parents should create opportunities for their children to talk about their day and their relationships.
“First, we always ask that parents be aware. Just creating spaces at home where they are able to have a conversation with their students. So they’re able to hear what’s going on in the student’s day-to-day, and they’re understanding what goes on in their peer relationships and their friendships,” said Williams.
“If parents talk to their students, that is a help for us. We ask that if you are aware of things that are going on, document it, call the school, let us be aware of what is happening so we can assist,” she added.
Parents also can watch for signs that a child may be experiencing bullying, including:
Unexplained injuries
Lost or damaged clothing, books, electronics or jewelry
Frequent headaches or stomachaches, feeling sick, or faking illness
Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
If you suspect your child is being bullied, contact their teacher, guidance counselor or school administration.
Families also can check with their local school board for their district’s bullying policy.
You can find resources about bullying prevention on the Virginia Department of Education’s website or by visiting www.stopbullying.gov/.
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