Paige was your typical high school student who was excited about life, connected with her friends, and eager to take on her future, including college. She was attending her high school football game when one of her friends asked her to leave to get some food. After pulling away from the drive-through and thinking they were headed back to the game, she was surprised when her friend, a boy her age, decided he had other plans that led to a sexual assault.
Shaken, she reached out to a friend who helped her get home, and she immediately told her parents what happened. As horrific as assault is for anyone, including Paige, she was able to get help and, as a result, reduced the lasting impacts so common to survivors of sexual violence.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month—a critical time to reflect on the roles we each play in creating safer environments for children. For those working in education, this month offers a timely invitation to consider how schools can serve as places of learning and systems of protection, prevention, and early intervention.
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There is a part of Paige’s story that is not so common: her immediately disclosing the abuse. According to researchers, most survivors do not disclose their abuse until adulthood, and many into later adulthood. In one study, 60–70% of survivors reported they did not disclose until adulthood.
It is important to acknowledge a survivor’s journey is their own, and they decide when, where, and to whom they disclose. But can we simultaneously help them experience the benefit of intervention opportunities that come with earlier disclosure? And similarly, can we acknowledge educators’ unique and important role in the disclosure process?
What Does Data Tell Us About Sexual Abuse and Education?
Educators have the power to alter survivors’ outcomes, meaningfully changing the trajectory of their lives. Let’s look at some data points to understand this opportunity.
- One in eight children in the United States will be victims of sexual abuse before they turn eighteen.
- Survivors of child sexual abuse are more likely to leave school without graduating. In one longitudinal study, youth who were sexually abused were up to 40% less likely to graduate high school.
- Survivors of childhood sexual abuse report experiencing fourteen or more days of poor mental or physical health per month.
- 13%-17% of students report educator sexual misconduct (7-9 million K-12 students).
- Reports of child sexual abuse are most often raised by law enforcement and educational personnel.
- Over half of survivors of child sexual abuse were abused by juveniles, most of whom were acquaintances.
How Educators Can Intervene in Student Sexual Abuse
As previously stated, most survivors don’t disclose until adulthood, but as noted in the research, educational personnel are among the most common recipients of a child’s disclosure. What if educators were better prepared to receive this disclosure and advocate for the child or teen to get the needed help? This is the opportunity and power educators have to change outcomes.
How Educators Can Prevent Student Sexual Abuse
Not only do educators have a meaningful opportunity to intervene, but they can also go upstream and reduce the risk that children will be abused in the first place. While a parent may have the biggest influence on a child’s life when it comes to reducing the risk of sexual abuse, educators also play an impactful role, especially teachers. This includes recognizing grooming patterns and problematic behavior between students.
Schools Are Lagging Behind in Student Sexual Abuse Prevention
Despite their reach and responsibility, education systems are lagging behind other youth-serving organizations in preventing sexual abuse. According to researchers, the Big Six (e.g., Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouting, etc.) youth-serving organizations saw a 20% decline in child sexual abuse after implementing prevention strategies. Organized sports and religious organizations also saw an overall reduction in sexual misconduct with their efforts.
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Despite declines in other youth-serving organizations, schools did not see a decrease in child sexual abuse and boundary violations during this same period of the study.
Why Are Schools Falling Behind?
Why are education systems lagging behind? While many factors contribute to this gap, research by Carol Shakeshaft, who has studied educator sexual misconduct for over two decades, offers critical insight.
After studying educator sexual misconduct for over twenty years, she reports that adults within education systems do not report misconduct because they:
- Do not understand the red flags
- Do not want to risk hurting their colleague or school
- Do not understand how and when to report and what happens next
5 Steps Every Educator Can Take to Prevent Student Sexual Abuse
What, then, is the educator’s playbook to reduce incidents of sexual abuse? Follow these five steps.
- Learn the signs.
- Educate yourself on the issue broadly.
- Educate yourself on child-on-child sexual abuse specifically.
- Share learnings with colleagues to open dialogue and accountability.
- Know your school’s reporting procedures and your legal and ethical obligations. When in doubt, report.
Moving from Student Sexual Abuse Awareness to Action
Paige’s story of disclosure and intervention is exceptional—but it doesn’t have to be. When educators are equipped with knowledge, supported by policy, and encouraged to act, early intervention becomes possible and prevention more achievable.
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As we recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, let’s move beyond awareness and take action. Every school can be part of the solution. The cost of silence is too high, and the opportunity for impact is too important.
Chris Yadon is the Managing Director of Saprea, a non-profit organization liberating individuals and society from child sexual abuse and its lasting impacts. His expertise centers on increasing awareness around this epidemic and educating the public on best practices for prevention and the healing services available to survivors.
