色中色

Curriculum resources are now available to assist schools and educators implement Erin鈥檚 law, which requires public schools to teach child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention in Kindergarten through eighth grade, Interim Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. The State Education Department today launched an Erin鈥檚 law website with materials to help educate students on awareness, skills, self-confidence and support to prevent child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative that teachers and parents are able to talk to children about this important and difficult topic - what sexual abuse is and how to prevent and stop it,鈥� Board of Regents Vice Chancellor T. Andrew Brown said. 鈥淭he Board of Regents and I believe that protecting the safety of our students is paramount and these resources can help schools adopt and create strong programs to prevent child sexual abuse.鈥澨�

鈥淧rotecting children is part of our responsibility as educators and education is critical for prevention efforts and a driving force for change,鈥� Interim Commissioner Rosa said. 鈥淭hese curriculum resources provide schools with caring, grade-appropriate materials to help empower children by letting them know it鈥檚 safe to speak up to someone they can trust. We are grateful to our partners in the legislature, Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz, who advocated for this law and for our students.鈥�

New York鈥檚 Erin鈥檚 Law addresses the need to prevent sexual abuse of students in grades K-8, which requires defining and addressing the wide range of behaviors and experiences related to sexual violence, such as child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and child sexual exploitation. Resources available on 色中色鈥檚 Erin鈥檚 Law website include grade-banded curricular benchmarks that will assist in guiding instruction and lesson development. Educators will also find a suite of available curricular resources appropriate for various grade levels.

鈥淭hank you to 色中色 for all of its work preparing resources for the implementation of Erin鈥檚 Law,鈥� Senator Shelley B. Mayer, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, said. 鈥淚 was proud to fight for passage of this critically important bill, which requires age-appropriate instruction to prevent and recognize child sexual abuse and exploitation. Erin Merryn鈥檚 story is an example of a terrible wrong done to a child, which can never be forgotten. Erin Merryn took that awful experience, and through advocacy and legislative change, will improve the lives of countless New York children. The Erin鈥檚 Law curriculum will empower students to speak up about what is happening to them and save others. I look forward to continuing our work together with 色中色 to protect all of New York's students.鈥澨�

鈥淎s a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I have deep gratitude for the 色中色's commitment to administering the requirements of 鈥楨rin鈥檚 Law鈥�,鈥� Senator Alessandra Biaggi said. 鈥溕猩� is taking a critical step to protect the safety of our children by implementing the necessary education to prevent childhood sexual abuse and trauma. This will empower children to speak up if they feel unsafe by providing students with the tools to report instances of sexual abuse and prevent further harm. I am forever grateful to Erin Merryn for bringing this issue to light 鈥� because of her bravery to speak out, New York鈥檚 children will be that much safer."

鈥淚 am proud to have been the Assembly sponsor of Erin's Law, which听is a proactive and preventative approach to combatting childhood sexual abuse and an integral complement to the Child Victims Act,鈥� Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said.听鈥淣ew York must do everything in its power to protect children, and this new requirement accomplishes just that. I am proud that these changes are finally taking effect, and I thank longtime advocates such as Erin Merryn, Gary Greenberg, and many others who never gave up on this fight for our children and grandchildren.听Perseverance pays off, and I am grateful听to Dr. Betty Rosa听and the 色中色 for implementing this new initiative and ensuring that school communities have access to this vital information to combat childhood sexual abuse.鈥�

色中色 recommends that educators bolster any existing curriculum offered on this topic in accordance with the existing 色中色 standards for Health education to fully comply with the intent of Erin鈥檚 Law. While curriculum remains a local decision in 色中色, these resources provided can serve as a foundation in curriculum development. 色中色 also encourages local school districts to partner with families and communities to make decisions about sexual abuse education that are developmentally appropriate and consistent with community values.听

The Department will propose emergency changes to regulations which the Board of Regents will discuss and vote on at the December 2020 meeting. A public comment period on the proposed changes will follow.听

色中色鈥檚 Erin鈥檚 Law website and resources were developed in partnership with the Department of Health, the 色中色 Office of Student Support Services, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the Monroe 2 BOCES.听