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Education Dive
Reports of sexual assault at schools on the rise, but the reasons are unclear
Amelia Harper
Aug. 2, 2019
Dive Brief:
The National Center for Educations Statistics' (NCES) annual "Crime,
Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools" report reveals
5.2% of the 2,762 K-12 schools completing the survey for 2017-18
reported at least one incident of sexual assault other than rape,
compared with 3.4% in 2015-16, Education Week reports.
While the number of reported sexual assaults other than rape increased
significantly, from roughly 6,100 in the 2015-16 school year to roughly
7,100 in the 2017-18 school year, the number of reported rapes or
attempted rapes did not increase. As a result, researchers are unsure
if the increased number of sexual assaults reported is due to an actual
increase in the number of incidents or an increase in reporting in the
wake of increased understanding and awareness of what constitutes
sexual assault in the wake of the "#MeToo" movement.
Some advocacy groups like the American Association of University Women,
however, feel incidents of sexual assault are still under-reported, as
some school officials still lack the training or the will to
distinguish sexual violence or bullying from reports of bullying in
general.
Dive Insight:
Though the #MeToo movement has drawn attention to the issue of sexual
harassment, especially in colleges and the workplace, the issue is also
a growing factor in K-12 education.
While some instances of sexual assault clearly go unreported, the AP
found 17,000 official reports of sexual assaults at schools from the
school years beginning in 2011 and ending in 2015. Some of the assaults
that happen at schools are caused by teachers or staff, but roughly 20%
of educators also suffer sexual harassment or assaults.
While sexual harassment and assault is a growing problem at K-12
schools, it is also a good place to teach proper behavior and
responses. Most states have policies regarding teaching sex education,
though less than half require the teaching of sexual consent. Though it
is not required by all states, this teaching is not prohibited and
should be an important part of any sex education discussion.
Sex education also needs to begin early enough, whether it comes from
parents or the school district, to be proactive. While many school
districts consider middle school the appropriate age for sex education
to begin, some advocates think limited discussions should begin even
earlier — especially as the age of puberty is dropping.
Teachers and administrators also need education about sexual harassment
so they are prepared to deal with the increase in reporting, regardless
of the cause. Clear understanding of the difference between bullying
and sexual harassment and assault can better equip educators to deal
appropriately with the issue, explain the difference to students,
and support students in coming forward with their experiences.
Federally funded schools are also subject to Title IX regulations,which
need to be clearly understood by teachers and administrators so reports
of sexual harassment and assault are handled appropriately. Though
there are concerns that the U.S. Department of Education may be
weakening these regulations under the current administration, those
regulations are still in place to help protect vulnerable students.
Administrators charged with handling Title IX situations need proper
training in the complex issues surrounding them, as mishandling
allegations can lead to serious consequences. Schools can be sued for
not protecting students, for placing students in harm’s way, or for
handling complaints improperly. They can also be reported to the
Department of Education for violations of Title IX and can lose federal
funding consequently, though that action is rarely enforced.
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