National Study Reveals Widespread Sexual Misconduct and Abuse by K–12 School Employees
WASHINGTON, DC. — The National Center to Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct, & Exploitation recently released a groundbreaking report, titled Understanding and Preventing Sexual Misconduct and Abuse by K–12 School Employees (October 2025), which reveals the scope and prevalence of educator sexual misconduct in America’s schools.
“The numbers tell a heartbreaking story:
1 in 10 students reports sexual misconduct by a K–12 employee
4500+ educators have been arrested
Up to 9.4 million students may experience misconduct before graduation” - Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct and Exploitation
Sadly, this problem isn’t limited to public schools. Abuse is far too common at private schools and other institutions where adults have care and oversight of minors. According to the report, “Sexual abuse and misconduct in K–12 schools continues to be an alarming issue in the United States. Everyday there is a newspaper headline of a teacher, coach, or school employee arrested for abusing a child in their care. Youth serving organizations like the Catholic Church, Boy Scouts, and USA Gymnastics have each publicly faced the sobering reality that children may be abused by the employees or volunteers who care for them. The abuse of students in schools remains understudied and includes a myriad of issues and loopholes that contribute to its ongoing harm.” Parents must be on guard when they are entrusting their children to others.
The report is careful to define terms and clearly lay out the problem facing families.
“Sexual misconduct is a broad term that has been used to describe many inappropriate, unethical, and illegal behaviors engaged in by a school employee. This may include contact sexual abuse (e.g., touching, kissing, sexual intercourse) or non-contact sexual behaviors (e.g., inappropriate communication, solicitation or luring into an inappropriate relationship, sexualized photographs or AI-generated images).1 Some of these behaviors may be criminal, while others may be professionally prohibited but not subject to outside prosecution. For the purposes of this paper, “school employees” who provide care or services for students may include, but are not limited to, teachers, coaches, administrators, paraprofessionals, SROs (school resource officers), substitutes, and classified staff (i.e., bus drivers, custodians).”
“A school employee is in a position of power over a student. It is sometimes misguidedly stated (if sexual contact occurs) that a staff member is in a ‘relationship’ with a student. While the student may have been groomed to believe that they are in love with the school employee, due to their age and the innate power differential between the student and the school employee, a student cannot give consent, and thus any resulting sexual contact is abusive and harmful.” - Understanding and Preventing Sexual Misconduct and Abuse by K–12 School Employees (October 2025)
While the report offers some guidance for parents, it is painfully clear that the danger of educator abuse is so extreme and immediate that parents must take drastic steps to protect their children. The Schoolhouse Rocked ministry exists to empower parents to take back their children’s education. If you are concerned about the safety of your children at school, we offer a wealth of free resources and encouragement to help you to homeschool your children. Start today by streaming the feature-length documentary Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution for free here. When you stream the film you will also receive our Homeschool Survival Kit, which outlines the steps you need to take to get started and provides a list of every resource you’ll need to homeschool from preschool to graduation.
If you are a victim of educator abuse, you can find resources for help and healing here.
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