Implementation of Anti-Bullying Legislation in Iowa Schools: A Qualitative Examination of School Administrators’ Perceived Barriers and Facilitators

In response to bullying, Iowa adopted an anti-bullying statute in 2007 requiring all school districts to adopt an anti-bullying policy. From 2013 to 2014, researchers conducted 47 semi-structured interviews with school and district administrators in Iowa. Administrators identified many policy implementation challenges related to funding and staff, prevention programs, applying the law’s bullying definition in investigations, and understanding the school’s jurisdiction for policy enforcement. They also raised contextual barriers to implementation, like media portrayals of bullying and parental attitudes.