REPORT SAYS COMPLAINTS OF SEX ABUSE IN SCHOOLS IS UP AS MUCH AS 74%.

The Defense of Freedom Institute released a recent report that outlines what it calls a systemic failure to protect students from sexual abuse in America's public schools. 

Relying on the most current government data, DFI says the number of sex abuse complaints to the U.S. Department of Education rose dramatically between the 2015-2016 school year and the 2017-2018 school year. The complaints increased from 9,649 incidents of sexual violence to 13,799. Rape and attempted rape rose from 394 to 685. 

ROCKWOOD INCIDENTS
The Rockwood incidents referenced below are not in the above numbers. They happened later. 

2022 at Eureka High School, a staff member was charged with sexual abuse after touching a student with Down's Syndrome.

2022 at Lafayette High School, an Orchestra teacher was charged after allegedly setting up a hidden camera that recorded inappropriate videos of an exchange student staying with him. Police say he later shared those videos with others. The teacher was not charged with touching the student. For allegedly recording and sharing the videos, he was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, and possessing and promoting child pornography. 

2019 at Lafayette High School, police say a hall monitor had sex with a 16 year old girl at school, and at her house.

All the above cases resulted in criminal charges. But, many don't.

From the Defense of Freedom Institute report:
"A public school employee who sexually abuses children is, on average, passed to three school districts and can abuse up to 73 children before they are fired or face legal consequences. The report points to collective bargaining agreements negotiated between teacher unions and school districts as a “key contributor to the problem, as they ‘often allow for scrubbing of personnel files,’” so no record of abuse is left once an offender leaves the system."

DFI says this happens, in part, because not all states have laws that require districts to disclose substantiated complaints to the next district that hires the person accused. 

MISSOURI LAW

Note: Missouri DOES have such a law. Section 162.068 talks specifically about requiring a policy that ensures districts share information. 

QUICK BACKGROUND

The law was passed as the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act in 2011. It aimed to restrict online communication between students and teachers after Amy Hestir, a 12 year old girl in the 1980s, was allegedly manipulated by her 7th grade music teacher into an abusive sexual relationship that lasted over a year. The teacher reportedly went on to transfer from district to district until he retired. The law also gives immunity to school district employees who share substantiated accusations with other districts looking to hire the accused.

A summary of the nationwide complaint data can be found here: The DFI report

ROCKWOOD?
A quick check of Rockwood policies shows accusations of abuse/sexual misconduct should be reported to the Missouri Children's division and, sometimes, depending on the situation, the district's Title IX coordinator. It was not immediately obvious which policy spells out that they will share substantiated accusation information with other districts. 

We asked the district for clarification and will update when we know more.

WHAT IS DFI?
DFI describes itself as an independent nonprofit that promotes conservative solutions to challenges in the workforce and education.