New Law Seeks to Educate California Students About Sexual Assault
Plagued with allegations and findings of sexual assault in their classrooms, the public school districts of California are gearing up to provide students with education about sexual harassment and assault. New additions to the state’s sexual health education statute require schools to provide the educational course to 7th- through 12th-grade students. Though the program was started in January 2016, the upcoming school year will be the first full year of implementation.
A 2011 study by the American Association of University Women questioned 2,000 7th through 12th graders about their experiences with sexual harassment. The findings showed that about half of all study participants reported some type of gender-based harassment in their school setting. Students reported a variety of incidents, including sexual comments and gestures, being touched in an unwelcome sexual way, and being forced to perform sexual acts. While both males and females reported these experiences, female students were found to be more likely to experience sexual harassment in school.
Holding schools accountable for their unsafe environments
As of June 1, 2016, seven California elementary and secondary school districts had open Title IX sexual violence investigations. While the Los Angeles County Unified School District is not currently under investigation, the district has had substantial problems with sexual assault allegations between students, as well as incidents involving teachers and students.
Students have a right to feel safe and secure in their learning environments, and school administrators have a duty to create an environment where students are protected from sexual assaults and abuse. To meet this duty, schools have a responsibility to take such actions as:
- Fully vetting potential employees and teachers with thorough background investigations
- Adequately investigating all accusations of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse
- Properly punishing perpetrators of sexual assault, whether students or employees
- Creating a culture where sexual assault and abuse within the school are not tolerated.
California school leaders hope that the sexual assault educational programs will assist in reducing the rate of incidents within the school system. While this may be a step in the right direction, effective change must also address any administrative attitudes of complacency and secrecy that essentially condone sexual abuse within the schools.
At Taylor & Ring, our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys have successfully handled numerous cases involving Southern California students. We understand the hurt that these incidents cause. That is why we earnestly work to hold the perpetrator and school accountable for the pain they inflict on victims and their families. Call our office today at 310.776.6390 or complete our contact form to learn more about getting justice for your child.
David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.