County Office of Education: Are Schools Doing Enough to Address Sexual Harassment?

It is unclear when or if the county school districts provide student training on recognizing sexual harassment and how to report it. To provide clarification, as an elementary school district serving Transitional Kindergarten to eighth grade students, student training on recognizing sexual harassment varies in consideration to developmental appropriateness. For younger students, generalized discussions take place in the classroom setting regarding personal space, privacy and protecting one’s own body. Students at the younger ages are taught to find a trusted adult to report needs and concerns. Beginning at grade five into middle school, students receive a more comprehensive instruction in regards to health education including sexual health education. As part of the Positive Prevention Plus Curriculum used at the Sierra Ridge Middle School upper grades, students receive training on recognizing sexual harassment. All classified and certificated staff members are trained annually on how to recognize signs of sexual harassment and potential abuse. With this training, staff is cognizant in monitoring unusual changes in student PINEWOOD SCHOOL SIERRA RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL 6181 Pine Street 2700 Amber Trail KIM LITTLE, Superintendent BOARD OF TRUSTEES Susan McVey, President Dave Campbell, Clerk Michael Bird J. Dennis Cullen Thomas E. Griffin behavior indicating a student may have experienced sexual harassment or sexual abuse. In conjunction, staff are trained on how to appropriately respond and access support for identified students. Students, families, and staff are trained annually to use STOPit, an anonymous online/call system to report incidents that endanger the health, safety and/or wellbeing of oneself or others.

EDCOE and County School District Websites are out of compliance with Title IX requirements The Pollock Pines Elementary School District does agree with this finding. While the district does link non- discrimination policy, complaint procedures, and coordinator contact information on its website, navigating and finding this information through a simple Title IX search is difficult. RECOMMENDATION