Stop Sexual Harassment in K–12 Act

This bill aims to reduce sexual harassment and assault in K–12 schools. It requires school districts that get federal funds to add more full‑time Title IX Coordinators, make sure families know how to reach them, and avoid conflicts of interest for these roles. It also requires inclusive, trauma‑informed prevention education, often in partnership with local rape crisis centers or community groups, and clarifies that sex discrimination includes sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, and pregnancy‑related conditions .

The bill funds training for teachers and school staff to prevent, spot, and respond to harassment and assault ($50 million a year for five years) and sets up a standardized, anonymous survey so students and staff can share their experiences; schools must give the survey each year, and the Education Department will publish the results and annual updates ($10 million a year for five years) . If a district cannot meet a requirement because of cost, it may request a waiver, but it must adopt an alternative plan that includes partnering with a local rape crisis center or similar group; failure to follow the plan can lead to loss of federal funds. Most coordinator rules start one year after the bill becomes law, and the bill does not weaken any other civil rights protections; it also encourages schools to offer confidential ways to report harassment .

• Who is affected:
  • K–12 students and school staff; school districts that receive federal funding .
• What changes:
  • More full‑time Title IX Coordinators, set by student counts (one per 75,000 students in grades 7–12 and one per 150,000 students in grades K–6), with no conflicting admin roles; outreach and prevention training are required and done with local partners .
  • Grants for staff training: $50 million per year for five years, with attention to underserved areas .
  • Annual, anonymous climate surveys with a parent opt‑out and accessible design; results are made public; $10 million per year for five years .
• When:
  • Coordinator staffing rules take effect one year after enactment.
  • Schools must begin giving the survey every year no later than two years after the Education Department provides the survey tools; annual federal reports on survey data begin within five years of enactment .