Varying Definitions of Educator Sexual Misconduct: Highlighting an Urgent Need for Cross-State Collaboration

• In Event: Sexual Violence on Campus: Town Hall on New Title IX Regulations

Abstract

The reported number of incidents of educator sexual misconduct (ESM) in Texas has increased over the last several years and the rise in reports has motivated legislative action to add heightened penalties to educators engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviors with students (Authors, 2016). Not all states define and sanction ESM in the same way, however, and offenders have successfully found teaching jobs by moving from one state to another (Reilly, 2016). This study reviews definitions of ESM throughout the United States and provides recommendations for further collaboration between state and district leaders to develop a common definition of ESM.

Authors

• Catherine Robert, The University of Texas - Arlington

• Elisabeth M. Krimbill, Texas A&M University - San Antonio

• Alejandra Gonzalez-Mejia, The University of Texas at San Antonio

• David P. Thompson, The University of Texas - San Antonio