Inappropriate Student-Teacher Relationships

In this video, we’re discussing inappropriate teacher-student relationships.
Inappropriate relationships can range from emotional manipulation to physical relationships.

Regardless of the age of the student or the teacher, these relationships are always inappropriate given the inherent power dynamic and inability for young people to understand these dynamics and consent. Studies show that approximately 13% of teachers will engage in inappropriate sexual behaviors with students – and one investigation found nearly 350 public educators were arrested for child sex-related crimes in 2023 alone.

These actions violate professional ethics and, in many cases, the law. High-profile incidents, such as the recent Rosemead High School “Predator’s Playground” article in Business Insider where the journalists uncovered dozens of inappropriate student/teacher relationships involving at least 20 different educators – with inappropriate behavior ranging from lewd remarks about students’ bodies to sexual assault and rape. He stated that grooming was so rampant in a few of the cases that more than one educator would target the same student, and many teachers had multiple victims over multiple years.

These stories garner media attention, revealing patterns of behavior and have started the movement for legal and educational reforms.

Students who find themselves affected by such relationships have several legal options. First, we highly recommend writing down everything you can recall about the incident – whether this just happened or happened years ago.

From there, we recommend talking to a trusted person such as a family member or another teacher – especially if you are under 18.

In general, reporting the behavior to school authorities is the next best step. Each jurisdiction may handle reports differently but you can likely have someone report with you so you do not have to do this alone.

Public schools are required to provide safe education environments free from sexual harassment and abuse. If you report and they do not investigate or they retaliate – you likely have other rights and options. You can report to the school district regardless of how long ago the harm happened if the individual is still employed in a school setting.

You may also want to report to law enforcement. Filing a police report will not only start the process of a criminal investigation against the individual perpetrator(s), it can help create an important papertrail for yourself and others.

The third option you may have is filing a civil lawsuit against the school, the school district, and/or the individual perpetrator who caused the harm. Filing a civil lawsuit allows you to seek monetary compensation for the harm that happened to you.
It’s important to take action as soon as possible as the statute of limitations for both criminal cases and civil cases put time limits on the ability to seek justice through these avenues – with some as little as one year from the time harm happened.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by an inappropriate teacher-student relationship, reaching out for help is crucial. You can contact us at Helping Survivors if you have questions or are looking to speak to a lawyer in regards to your legal rights and actions.