Michigan School Harassment Lawyer: Protecting Students’ Rights

Michigan School Harassment Lawyer: Protecting Students’ Rights

School is supposed to be a safe place—a space for growth, learning, and friendship. But for too many students across Michigan, the classroom has become a battleground.

Reports of harassment and bullying in Michigan schools are on the rise. Students are being targeted because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or even their religion. And it’s not just happening in locker rooms or lunch lines. It’s happening in classrooms, in Zoom chats, in texts and DMs, and sometimes—devastatingly—from the very teachers or administrators who are supposed to protect them.

When a student is harassed, it's not enough for a school to “investigate.” It's not enough to separate desks or issue a weak apology. Schools have a legal duty to prevent harassment and respond with action when it happens. If they don’t, we hold them accountable.

Whether your child was bullied for being LGBTQ+, harassed by a teacher, or assaulted and silenced by school officials—we step in, and we don’t back down.

What Is School Harassment?

Physical Bullying or Threats

Punches. Shoves. Intimidating stares in the hallway. Desks knocked over. Backpacks slashed. Physical threats—whether carried out or not—are a clear sign of harassment. When schools fail to stop this violence, they may be legally responsible for the consequences.

Verbal Abuse and Slurs

Words can be weapons—especially when they target a child’s identity. Racial slurs. Sexist insults. Taunts about disability or religion. This kind of verbal abuse isn’t “kids being kids”—it’s discrimination, and it’s protected under both federal and Michigan law.

If your child is being called names, humiliated, or mocked in front of others, and the school knows and does nothing—they may be in violation of civil rights laws.

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

Harassment doesn’t stop at the school doors. It follows kids home—on Snapchat, TikTok, group texts, and private message boards. Images are shared. Rumors are spread. Students are targeted online by peers or even school staff.

Michigan law holds schools accountable when online harassment creates a hostile school environment. If your child is afraid to go to school because of what’s happening online, it’s time to take legal action.

Sexual Harassment and Assault

Unwanted touching. Inappropriate comments. Sexual jokes. In some of the worst cases—assault by a classmate, teacher, or coach. Title IX and Michigan law prohibit all forms of sexual harassment in educational settings.

Whether your child experienced repeated harassment or a single traumatic incident, the school must take it seriously and respond swiftly. If they don’t, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.

Retaliation for Reporting Harassment

No child should be punished for standing up for themselves. And yet, it happens all the time—students who report harassment are labeled “troublemakers,” suspended, or pushed out of school programs.

This is not just unfair—it’s a violation of the First Amendment and federal civil rights protections. Retaliation is illegal, and Marko Law knows how to fight back.

Legal Protections for Michigan Students

Title IX – Sex-Based Harassment in Education

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools that receive federal funding—including nearly all public schools in Michigan.

This includes:

• Sexual harassment or assault by students or staff
• Gender-based bullying
• Discrimination against LGBTQ+ students

Title VI and Title VII – Race, Religion, and National Origin

These federal civil rights laws prohibit:

• Racial slurs and threats
• Anti-immigrant or xenophobic harassment
• Religious discrimination or ridicule

Title VI applies to public schools and bans race, color, and national origin discrimination. Title VII expands protections for school employees—but can also signal a culture of bias that harms students too.

Section 504 and the ADA – Disability-Based Harassment

Students with physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities are protected under:

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

These laws guarantee equal access to education—and require schools to prevent harassment based on a student’s disability. If your child is being mocked, excluded, or denied services, the school may be violating federal law.

Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act – Michigan State Protections

Michigan’s own civil rights law—the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act—protects students from harassment based on:

• Race
• Religion
• Sex
• National origin
• Age
• Marital status

This powerful state law allows students and parents to file complaints through the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) or take direct legal action. We often use this in combination with federal claims to strengthen our cases.

MDCR – Michigan Department of Civil Rights

The MDCR enforces anti-discrimination laws across the state. They handle complaints related to school harassment and can investigate school policies, staff behavior, and failure to protect students.

Filing with the MDCR is often a smart legal step—and we can help guide that process.

Who’s Liable When Harassment Happens in School?

School Districts and Administrators

Public school districts in Michigan have a legal obligation to protect students from harassment, especially when it’s based on race, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

When principals, superintendents, or school boards:

• Ignore complaints
• Downplay serious allegations
• Fail to discipline repeat offenders
• Don’t implement protective measures

—they may be liable for creating or allowing a hostile environment. In many cases, failing to act is just as unlawful as participating in the abuse.

Teachers, Coaches, and School Staff

Adults in schools aren’t just educators—they’re caretakers with a duty to intervene. When teachers or staff:

• Harass students directly
• Enable abusive behavior
• Retaliate against victims or whistleblowers

they can be sued personally under federal and state civil rights laws, including Section 1983 and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Fellow Students (and Sometimes Parents)

Harassment by another student can still lead to school liability—if the school knew about it and failed to take meaningful action.

In some situations, the offending student’s parents may also bear responsibility—particularly if:

• They encouraged harmful behavior
• Knew about the harassment and failed to intervene
• Were negligent in supervising their child’s conduct (especially in cyberbullying cases)

These cases are highly fact-specific, and we know how to dig deep to uncover what really happened—and who let it happen.

Private and Charter Schools

Don’t assume that legal protections vanish in private schools or charter academies. These institutions must still:

• Comply with Michigan civil rights laws
• Uphold contracts and codes of conduct
• Maintain a safe, discrimination-free environment

Many are also subject to federal civil rights rules if they receive government funding. That means your child’s rights still apply—and we can still take legal action if those rights were violated.

What Parents Can Do If Their Child Is Being Harassed

Report the Harassment and Demand Documentation

As soon as you learn of the harassment:

• Report it to a school official—teacher, principal, or counselor
• Put it in writing—email or certified letter
• Request a copy of the school’s harassment policy
• Ask for a written summary of how the school plans to investigate

Do not accept verbal promises. Demand records. Under Title IX and Michigan law, schools are required to take all reports seriously and take prompt, effective action.

Document Everything

Keep detailed records, including:

• Dates and times of incidents
• Screenshots of messages or social media posts
• Notes from conversations with teachers or staff
• Copies of disciplinary reports or investigation outcomes

This paper trail is critical if the school fails to act or retaliates against your child. It can also become key evidence in a legal claim.

Seek Medical or Psychological Support

Even if the harassment seems “non-physical,” the emotional damage is real. Don't wait until your child hits a breaking point.

• Contact a therapist or school counselor
• Document mental health symptoms and diagnoses
• Consider alternate schooling or temporary withdrawal if safety is a concern

Emotional trauma can last for years—don’t let the school gaslight you into thinking it’s nothing.

Contact a School Harassment Lawyer

If the school doesn’t take your concerns seriously—or worse, retaliates—you need a legal advocate now.

At Marko Law, we fight to protect Michigan students from harassment and discrimination. We:

• Investigate what schools failed to do
• File complaints with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or U.S. Department of Education
• Pursue civil lawsuits when necessary

Don’t wait for the school to “do the right thing.” Too often, they won’t—until you bring in a lawyer.

Contact Marko Law – Because Your Child Deserves Safety, Respect, and Justice

When schools fail to protect your child, we step in—and we don’t back down.

Your child should never have to choose between their safety and their education. If they’ve been bullied, harassed, or discriminated against—and the school failed to act—you have every right to demand justice. And at Marko Law, that’s exactly what we fight for.

Whether it’s emotional trauma, civil rights violations, or retaliation by school officials, we pursue the truth—and we hold every responsible party accountable.

Don’t let school administrators sweep this under the rug. Don’t wait until the damage is permanent.

📞 Phone: 1-833-MARKO-LAW or 1-313-777-7777
📍 Main Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 www.markolaw.com

‍