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Resources to Reduce and Respond to Sexual Violence in Schools

Sexual Violence

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) defines sexual violence as a verbal and/or physical act that breaks a person's trust and safety and is sexual in nature. Behaviors range from sexual harassment to unwanted fondling to forced penetration. All are done without consent.

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Laws, Policies, & Complaints

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Sex-Based Harassment

Definition - The United States Department of Education outlines that Title IX protects students, employees, applicants for admission and employment, and other persons from all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity. All students (as well as other persons) at recipient institutions are protected by Title IX—regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, part- or full-time status, disability, race, or national origin—in all aspects of a recipient’s educational programs and activities.

New Regulations August 1, 2024 - The US Department of Education has released new regulations on Title IX that are set to go into effect on August 1, 2024. There are currently legal challenges to the new regulations. Title IX Coordinators and District Leaders are encouraged to prepare for the new regulations to go into effect, while also keeping current on news related to Title IX.

How to File a Complaint Against Title IX

The primary enforcement body for Title IX is the US DOE’s Office of Civil Rights, and the specific office that handles Wisconsin complaints is located in Chicago.

Please see the US DOE’s Office of Civil Rights webpage for how to file a Title IX Complaint.

Wisconsin Pupil Non-Discrimination Laws

Each public school district is required by law to have written policies that prohibit discrimination against pupils for any of the reasons listed below. Discrimination can include allegations of sexual harassment such as sexual assault or abuse.

  • sex
  • race
  • religion
  • national origin (including a student whose primary language is not English)
  • ancestry
  • creed
  • pregnancy
  • marital or parental status
  • sexual orientation, and, or
  • physical, mental, emotional or learning disability

Each school district is required to designate an employee of the school district to receive complaints regarding discrimination under Wisconsin's pupil nondiscrimination law. Each district must also have some way for pupils, their parents or guardians, or residents of the school district to file complaints of discrimination.

Please see DPI’s webpage on the Pupil Non-Discrimination Program for more information.

How to File a Pupil Non-Discrimination Complaint

If you believe the school district has discriminated against your child, you may file a complaint with the school district. You may contact the school or district office and ask for copies of the pupil nondiscrimination policies and complaint procedure.

Please see DPI’s webpage on How to File a Pupil Non-Discrimination Complaint.

Considerations for School District Policies

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Organizations: Policy and Procedure Training - Awareness to Action (A2A)

  • Awareness to Action (A2A) is a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin and the Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Board to bring training and guidance to individuals, organizations, and communities ready to take responsibility for keeping children safe.
  • A2A offers a free in-person or virtual initial training to learn the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 6 Core Components to protect children through sound policies and procedures. This training includes:
    • Develop a concrete action plan to improve policies & best practices for your school.
    • Receive technical assistance and support from Awareness to Action staff on the implementation of the plan.
    • Attend a meeting 3 and 6 months after the training to sustain the implementation of the plan.
  • Staff members with decision-making power, as well as staff members who are directly responsible for helping kids stay safe should attend this workshop. It is not necessary for all staff members to attend.
  • Visit www.a2awisconsin.org for workshop details and email a2a@childrenswi.org to bring this free workshop to your school.

The Safe Place to Learn - National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

  • The Safe Place to Learn resource package provides a range of materials to support school efforts to prevent and eliminate peer-to-peer sexual harassment and sexual violence. It is designed to help establish and maintain a safe, supportive learning environment and mitigate factors that interfere with learning.

Addressing and Preventing Adult Sexual Misconduct in the School Setting - REMS

  • This 30-45 minute training module has been designed to help you learn about preventing and addressing adult sexual misconduct (ASM) in the school setting to protect students. When you are finished with this course, you will be able to define ASM; recognize ASM in a school setting, including identification of gray areas; identify when reporting potential ASM in a school setting may be required; and describe the federally recommended six-step planning process for addressing and preventing ASM.

Resources & Information on Sexual Violence

Connect with local Sexual Assault Service Provider (SASP)

Each community has a sexual assault service provider who can provide trainings, resources, and consultation related to the prevention and response of sexual violence and gender-based discrimination. Directory of Sexual Assault Service Providers from the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA)

General Sexual Violence Prevention Resources
Protective Behaviors Training and Curriculum

Responsibilities of school staff include following the state statute that requires school districts to teach elementary students about recognizing and preventing child abuse and child enticement (Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.01[2][d][8]). It is better to use an evidence-informed curriculum than trying to put together your own program. School leaders are encouraged to consult with local Sexual Assault Service Providers on abuse prevention programs.

Best practices also include teaching students about their rights under Title IX and pupil non-discrimination laws, an understanding of dating violence, human trafficking, healthy relationships, giving consent, power and control dynamics, online safety, and how to seek help for self or others.

 

Teen Dating Violence

Instruction for students on teen dating violence includes such topics as what it is, examples of what it looks like, power and control dynamics, consent, healthy relationships, recognizing and halting destructive behaviors, boundaries and limit setting, how to get help, how to get help for a friend, how to get help for your child/student.

Resources and Education for Adults

  • Preventing, Assessing, and Intervening in Teenage Dating Abuse: - A Training for Specialized Instructional Support Personnel - National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments: This training toolkit addresses teenage dating abuse. Specifically, it is designed for trainers to assist specialized instructional support personnel (e.g., school psychologists, social workers, school nurses, guidance counselors) in identifying, assessing, effectively intervening in, and preventing teenage dating abuse.
  • Addressing Self/Peer Exploitation Guides - Canadian Centre for Child Protection: The purpose of this resource guide is to help educate school personnel about the issue of self/peer exploitation and offer them a structure and framework on how to respond if a self/peer exploitation incident does occur with students in their school.
  • Healthy Social and Emotional Climate Training - GSAFE: Contact GSAFE for more information about training offerings
  • Love is Respect Resources and Information - National Domestic Violence Hotline: A project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, love is respect offers 24/7 information, support, and advocacy to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. They also provide information and resources for everyone.
  • Dating Violence Resources – National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments: Resources for schools, parents, and young adults.
  • End Abuse Wisconsin Annual Teen Summit - End Domestic Abuse WI: The annual Teen Summit is End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin's largest training. They bring in youth, parents, educators, activists, and mentors from all over Wisconsin to learn about healthy relationships, teen dating violence, and sexual assault within a larger anti-oppression framework.
  • End Abuse Wisconsin Annual Teen Summit- End Domestic Abuse WI: The annual Teen Summit is End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin's largest training. They bring in youth, parents, educators, activists, and mentors from all over Wisconsin to learn about healthy relationships, teen dating violence, and sexual assault within a larger anti-oppression framework.
Support for Survivors

 

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) does not endorse any specific companies or materials, and the included resources are by no means the only materials available. This list is provided to encourage schools to consider their resources and efforts in the following areas as a way to approach reducing and responding to sexual violence in schools.

For questions about this information, contact Julie Incitti (608) 266-0963