As students return to school for the 2026–2027 academic year, educators remain committed to providing a rigorous academic curriculum that prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and character needed to succeed in an increasingly complex and technology-driven world. Equally important is ensuring that every student learns in a school environment that is safe, supportive, respectful, and free from harassment, intimidation, hazing, bullying, and cyberbullying.

Bullying has evolved into a far more complex challenge than in previous generations. Beyond face-to-face intimidation, students today may encounter harassment through social media, text messaging, online gaming, group chats, artificial intelligence (AI), deepfake technology, and other digital platforms. Whether the behavior involves direct bullying, indirect bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, or AI-generated harassment, the consequences can be profound, affecting students’ academic achievement, emotional well-being, mental health, self-esteem, school attendance, and, in the most tragic cases, resulting in self-harm or loss of life. As schools across the nation continue to confront these challenges, one important question remains: What can school leaders do to proactively prevent bullying before it begins?

To help answer that question, Dr. Ronald W. Holmes has developed a National Online Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention Curriculum designed to support school districts, superintendents, principals, teachers, counselors, students, and families in creating safer learning communities. Complementing the curriculum is Dr. Holmes’ books, How to Eradicate Bullying, How to Eradicate Hazing, and Eradicating Cyber Bullying, which provide educators, school leaders, and parents with practical strategies, research-informed guidance, and proven leadership principles for preventing bullying and hazing, responding effectively to cyberbullying, and fostering a positive school climate where every student feels valued, respected, protected, and empowered to succeed.

The online curriculum features a comprehensive series of interactive learning modules that address traditional bullying, cyberbullying, digital citizenship, social media responsibility, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, bystander intervention, internet safety, AI awareness, deepfakes, and responsible technology use. Students engage with real-world scenarios, videos, reflective activities, assessments, and practical strategies that help them recognize bullying, respond appropriately, report concerns, support classmates, and make responsible decisions both online and offline. Professional development resources for educators and parent engagement materials further strengthen each school’s prevention efforts.

Designed with flexibility in mind, the curriculum is fully web-based and accessible across major operating systems, devices, and modern web browsers. Because the program requires only an internet-connected device, schools can implement it with minimal technical demands. Students may access the curriculum from school, home, libraries, or other approved learning environments through a secure web link or school-issued login credentials, making implementation efficient for districts of all sizes.

As America welcomes students back to school this year, we have an opportunity not only to strengthen academic achievement but also to strengthen school culture. By investing in comprehensive bullying prevention, responsible digital citizenship, and character development, schools can help ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn in an environment defined by safety, respect, inclusion, and belonging. For additional information about the National Online Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention Curriculum, please contact Dr. Ronald W. Holmes at [email protected].

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of 33 books and publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper.  Holmes is a former teacher, school administrator, test developer and district superintendent. Holmes has written children’s books on the coronavirus, solar system, flowers, colors, careers, continents, animals, birds and school bullying. His adult books focus on religion, relationships, hazing, workplace bullying, bipolar disorder, health and fitness, educational reform, and navigating the dissertation process.