White House Issues New Documents for K-12 Schools on Sexual Assault

The White House is ramping up pressure on K-12 schools to improve their response to incidents of sexual harassment and assault among students. The administration released several documents on September 19, 2016 reminding schools of their obligations under Title IX to respond to reports of students being sexually harassed or assaulted, and of factors to consider when dealing with students who experience trauma.

Read an article here.

• Considerations for School District Sexual Misconduct Policies highlights issues for K-12 districts to consider when bringing together a multi-disciplinary team to develop sexual misconduct policies as part of their overall response to sexual misconduct. By using this document as a guide, it will enable K-12 teams to include all the essential components of a comprehensive sexual misconduct plan. The document covers reporting options, support services for victims, definitions, confidentiality, the grievance process, and other critical areas. It also provides links to Federal government resources for those wanting further detail on a particular topic.
• Safe Place to Learn is an online, interactive resource package, funded by the Department of Education, to support efforts to create a positive school climate and healthy learning environment. This package highlights strategies and instruments with which many schools are already working to create a school community committed to preventing discrimination based on sex and its most extreme corollary, sexual violence. The materials in the package aim to help three primary staff groups: administrative leadership; all building staff; and staff responsible for interceding and responding to students. The resource package contains guidance, e-learning training modules, and information about trauma sensitivity, resources to support current and ongoing conversations and efforts to prevent bullying, sexual harassment and violence, and provide safe, supportive learning environments for all students, in age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate ways.