Conversations about sexual harm and students often focus on colleges. Younger students, however, experience it too and they face the same difficulties. Survivors may have a hard time with school—missing classes or seeing their grades drop—and they may suffer depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. If you are a K-12 student survivor of gender-based violence or sexual harassment, your school can help you through. 

Gender-based violence and sexual harassment include:

• Unwanted sexual comments, “jokes,” name-calling, rumors, messages, pictures, or videos 
• Unwanted physical sex acts, such as kissing and touching of private body parts, including rape 
• Dating violence: insults, threats, physical harm, or stalking from someone you date/used to date 
• Child sexual abuse: any romantic or sexual relationship between a minor and an adult, even if the minor wants to be with the adult

When these harms impact your education, you can tell your school so they can help you. You may hear this assistance called “supportive measures” or “accomodations,” but they’re quite simple in practice: it’s about offering you support so you can keep getting your education. It’s your right, and it’s the law. 

What support can my school give me? 

Survivors of gender-based violence and sexual harassment can ask their school to support them in a variety of ways. Here are some examples:

• Excuse absences: You may need to take time away from a busy class schedule. Perhaps you need a break for your mental health, working with a therapist, talking to a lawyer, or attending court. 
• Assist with schoolwork: If you are having a hard time completing work, your school could offer you tutoring, give you more time to get your assignments done or to prepare for a test, or an option to redo an assignment or retake a test.
• Help you feel safe at school: If the person who harmed you is at your school, staff can help you make a safety plan to keep them away. This can include leaving class a couple minutes early to avoid them in the hall, changing classes, or making shifts to school activities.
• Offer other support: Your school may offer free counseling. They should also be able to connect you with supports outside your school.

If you’re a student survivor, this post will answer some questions you might have as you think about asking your school for help. 

Common Questions from Student Survivors Seeking Help at School

How do I ask my school for help? 

Your school should tell all students that support is available to survivors of sexual harassment or harm. Unfortunately, schools tend to be hit or miss when it comes to addressing the needs of survivors. Your best bet is to go to your school’s Title IX office or coordinator first. 

In many cases, Title IX Coordinators—school officials who should help student survivors get support—work for the whole district. However, some larger schools have their own coordinator, or large districts like Chicago have an Office for Student Protections. You can use this database or look in your student handbook to find the right person; your school is required to offer this information. Consider speaking with your guidance counselor, school social worker, or an attorney if you cannot find contact details. 

I don’t know my school’s Title IX Coordinator. Can’t I just talk to a teacher I trust? 

If you go to a teacher and tell them that you’re a survivor in need of resources, they may be unsure of how to best assist you, even though they want to help. If you really want to go to your teacher first, tell them you need help contacting the Title IX Coordinator, who knows the correct, private procedures for working with survivors. 

Do I have to tell my school everything to get help?

To receive resources, you will need to tell the school that you are a survivor who is struggling academically. You can tell them that you don’t want your situation investigated or looked into, but you must be strategic. If you don’t want your school to investigate, you need to be clear that you are strictly asking for help with your education. 

There’s no guarantee that your school won’t ask follow-up questions, but you have a right to appropriate questioning and do not have to participate in any investigations. If any questions make you uncomfortable, you should bring in a parent, guardian, or attorney.

 It should be enough for the school to know that you’re a survivor and in need of help, but the only way they can help you is if they have a request. 

Are there situations my school would have to investigate? 

Yes. Often, this is a matter of sharing certain information to your school in the process of asking for help. While it might be hard, a school’s investigation is the right thing to do in some cases. For example, if a student reported that a teacher was abusing them, the school is obligated to investigate; your school also may investigate if they are concerned for your safety or the safety of other students. If/when the school pursues an investigation, it must document its decision, its policies to protect you, and how you can ask them to change their decision. 

Do I need proof that I am a survivor? 

If your school is sensitive, they should not ask for proof or evidence. In our experience, it is a rare request. There are no guarantees, however, of how well your school will manage your situation. If your school does require proof, a letter from your attorney or a counselor should be sufficient. 

How do I stop my classmates from finding out about what happened? 

First and foremost, your story and the support you get are no one else’s business. You don’t have to share any details with your classmates, and school staff is required to keep your supportive measures as confidential as feasibly possible. Certain precautions—such as leaving class a few minutes early—will be visible, and your teacher will need to be aware of relevant accommodations. The tough truth is that there isn’t much to do in these situations. Maintaining your privacy may be much easier in remote learning or in a college setting, where you’re doing most work outside of the classroom.

Should I get a lawyer involved? 

It’s probably a good idea, but it isn’t always necessary. Here are some things to consider: 

If you are comfortable talking with your school, you might only bring an attorney in if your school denied your request for accommodations. A lawyer will understand your rights and will insist your school honors them according to your needs.

If you are too traumatized or afraid to speak with your school on your own, an attorney can support you by advocating for your best interests and communicating your legal rights. 

If you plan on reporting to the school with the intention of starting an investigation, then it’s a very good idea to get a lawyer before contacting the school’s officials. 

CAASE’s Legal Services Can Help

We provide 100% free, expert representation to survivors of sexual harm. If you’re a student survivor of a sexual assault or harassment and want help navigating your options, or you think your school violated your rights, please contact us.

Contact Us To Learn More

To learn more about our free legal services or schedule a consultation, please call our legal intake line at 773-244-2230, ext. 205 or email legal@caase.org. We are available via phone 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. 

All personal information will be kept confidential. Please allow up to 72 hours for responses.

CAASE cannot accept cases involving:

• Cases that may implicate Family Law (marriage, divorce, or property in common, custody of children in common)
• Victims younger than 13 or those abused under the age of 13
• Victims who do not want to participate in the legal process, even if they are minors

Minors ages 13-17 can contact CAASE independently. We do not require parental or guardian involvement. 

NOTE: Due to the concerns about our staff and clients’ health, our offices are closed. We are working remotely, and email is the easiest way to contact our legal team. Please allow up to 72 hours for responses by email and phone.

This piece was published September 10, 2021 and updated on May 17, 2022. It was authored by KT Hawbaker in consultation with Senior Staff Attorney Christina Zuba; it was edited by Hayley Forrestal of CAASE. Learn more about our staff here.