WHAT IS SCHOOL SEXUAL ABUSE?

Any type of sexual relationship between an underage student and a school employee can be considered a form of school sexual abuse. School employees who are not teachers can include:  

• Principals
• Administrators
• Superintendents
• Guidance Counselors
• School Psychologists
• Bus Drivers
• Coaches
• Librarians
• Custodial staff 

This type of abuse can take many forms – both physical and non-physical.  

Some children and young people are at a greater risk of being victims of school sexual abuse. Risk factors include:  

• Stressful home environment
• Low self-esteem 
• Identify as LGBTQ+ 
• Disabilities 
• Low income 
• Undocumented or immigrant family 
• History of mental illness or suicide ideation 
• Domestic abuse 

Many times, young people who are victims of sexual abuse by a teacher or school employee have a difficult time talking about and reporting the abuse. This is because perpetrators of school sexual abuse often engage in grooming behaviors to force, intimidate, and control their victims.  

A PARENT’S GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING GROOMING

Groomers are experts at deception. Their goal is to keep the victim and their parents unaware of their intentions for as long as possible. Knowing how to identify grooming behavior is the most powerful way a parent can protect their student from school sexual abuse. 

Understanding Grooming Behavior 

The Child Is The Target. Understand that groomers are patient and methodical. They may observe the child undetected for a while before inserting themselves into the child’s life. They look for opportunities to exploit their target.   

Gaining the Caregiver’s and Child’s Trust. Some children are more trusting of adults than others. But in almost every case, a child is going to trust another adult if they see that their parents also trust them. This is why groomers aim to not only build trust with the child but also with their caregiver. This is to disarm the victim when they finally make a sexual advance.  

Fulfilling a Need. Groomers will look for some way to fulfill the child’s needs. That could be the need for attention, money, companionship, better grades, or even popularity. Teachers and school staff who engage in these behaviors are often close enough to the student to identify whatever this need is.    

Isolating the Child. Groomers will try to isolate the child from their family and friends. By this point, the relationship has likely gone beyond what is appropriate between a teacher and a student, even if no sexual abuse has occurred.   

Sexualizing the Relationship. When the child is the most vulnerable, groomers will begin sexualizing the relationship. This may start with something seemingly small but continue to escalate to more extreme requests.   

Maintaining Control. By this point, groomers have complete control over the relationship and they will do everything in their power to maintain that control. They may begin making threats that something bad will happen if anyone finds out about their inappropriate relationship.  

Recognizing Warning Signs 

If you start to see any of the following warning signs of grooming, there may be cause for concern. There Parents, beware of these red flags.  

  Groomer Warning Signs 

• Special attention/preference to your child 
• Offers to help the family (i.e. taking child to sports and other activities, babysitting, offering to do things around the house, offers you money or employment) 
• Inappropriate texts and emails between your child and their teacher 
• Gift-giving or unexplained gifts such as jewelry, clothes, toys, or electronics.  
• Excessive touching or hugging 
• Manufactures ways to spend time alone with child 

  Child Warning Signs 

• Describes the teacher or school employee as a sympathetic listener (i.e. “They’re the only one who understands me…”) 
• Spending more time alone in their room 
• Underage drinking/drug use 
• Being upset, withdrawn, or distressed 
• Suicide ideation or signs of self-harm 
• Withdrawn from friends and family 

Talking About It 

With the right tools, a child’s instincts could help keep them safe when a parent can’t be there to protect them. Talking to your child about what types of behaviors are not appropriate between a student and their teacher may help them recognize when something isn’t right. Inappropriate behaviors you may discuss include: 

• texting/talking outside of school  
• spending a lot of time alone and behind closed doors 
• excessive touching or groping 
• exposing private parts 
• sending/receiving inappropriate pictures 
• forced physical contact or “games” 

Let your child know that they can talk to you if they ever feel uncomfortable around a teacher or adult at school. Reassure them that they will not get in trouble and that you only care about keeping them safe. 

School Obligations In Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct

Schools are obligated to do everything in their power to prevent and respond to sexual abuse by a teacher or any staff member as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments (1972). Title IX is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and outlines expectations for protecting students from sexual violence in schools.  

• Prompt and Effective Response to Sexual Violence 
• Interim Measures During the Investigation 
• Confidential Support Services 
• Conduct  
• Offer Remedies 

In addition to Title IX, as mandatory reporters, any school staff member who suspects sexual abuse or misconduct is required to report it immediately.   

Additional Illinois Legislation 

In Illinois, additional legislation has been passed to offer greater clarity on how schools are to protect students.  

One important legislation that took effect in 2021 is Faith’s Law which was passed as two separate pieces of legislation:

• Public Act 102-0676 – The State Board of Education developed a resource guide aimed at providing students, parents, and teachers with information on sexual abuse response and prevention resources in their communities. 

• Public Act 102-0702 – Introduces several changes to school procedures such as incorporating employment history reviews in the hiring process, mandatory notifications to parents and students in cases of alleged sexual misconduct, and modifications to the overall handling of such allegations.