An Act To Require Education in Public Preschool Programs and Elementary Schools Regarding Child Sexual Abuse
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §254, sub-§18 is enacted to read:
(1) Identify research and evidence-based model educational materials on child sexual abuse; and
(2) Develop a model for child sexual abuse response policies and reporting procedures.
(1) Child sexual abuse education programs in public preschool programs and kindergarten to grade 5; and
(2) Child sexual abuse response policies and reporting procedures.
(1) Warning signs of a child who is being sexually abused;
(2) The basic principles of child sexual abuse prevention;
(3) Methods of student, teacher and parental education and outreach; and
(4) Accommodation provisions for instances in which educational materials conflict with sincerely held religious or philosophical beliefs of a student's parent or guardian.
(1) Actions that a child who is a victim of sexual abuse may take to obtain assistance; and
(2) Reporting procedures.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5-C is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §4711, as amended by PL 2009, c. 313, §11, is further amended to read:
§ 4711. Elementary course of study
The basic course of study for the elementary schools must provide for the instruction of all students in career and education development, English language arts, world languages, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and visual and performing arts, as described in the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements subject to the schedule specified in section 6209. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the basic course of study must include as part of health education age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse detection and prevention for all students enrolled in kindergarten to grade 5.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §4713 is enacted to read:
§ 4713. Public preschool course of study
The basic course of study for public preschool programs operated in compliance with chapter 203, subchapter 3 must provide all students in public preschool programs with the resources and comprehensive services necessary to meet the standards, best practices and assessment program as required by rules adopted by the department in accordance with section 4271, subsection 4 and section 4501, subsection 1. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the basic course of study must include as part of health education age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse detection and prevention for all students enrolled in the public preschool program.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2013, c. 244, §2, is further amended to read:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop model policies and a program of technical assistance for child sexual abuse response policies and reporting procedures and for age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse detection and prevention that may be used as part of the basic course of study in public preschool programs and elementary schools. The bill requires the Department of Education to make the model policies and technical assistance program available no later than March 1, 2016 to assist school administrative units with the implementation of child sexual abuse education programs and child sexual abuse response policies and reporting procedures in public preschool programs and kindergarten to grade 5.
The bill requires that, beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the basic course of study for elementary schools must include age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse detection and prevention for all students enrolled in public preschool programs and kindergarten to grade 5. The bill requires a school administrative unit that operates a public preschool program or an elementary school to develop a prevention plan, beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, that includes a written local policy and an implementation plan for the child sexual abuse education programs and child sexual abuse response policies and reporting procedures.
The bill also requires the commissioner to review the content standards and performance indicators for the content area of health education, including age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse detection and prevention during the 2015-2016 school year as part of the commissioner's 5-year review cycle of the content standards and performance indicators required under the system of learning results.