Following several high-profile cases of sexual misconduct, Sen. Nicole Poore sponsored a series of bills to better protect students from child predators and help police better protect victims from sexual exploitation.
Passed unanimously by the Senate and the House, Senate Bill 290 expanded on Erin’s Law, which, since 2016, has required all publicly funded schools in Delaware to train employees and educate students about personal body safety, sexual abuse and how to maintain appropriate interactions between children and adults, including coaches and volunteers.
SB 290 specifically required that prevention-focused training for school staff and education for students include discussions about “grooming,” meaning acts by adults to build trust and access to children for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact.
Under SB 290, training for school staff is now required to include instruction on skills and policies on how to prevent inappropriate sexual misconduct, establish appropriate adult and student interactions, and detect warning signs of inappropriate interactions. Schools are also required to make similar information available to parents, including information on counseling and other resources. Age-appropriate instruction for students was further expanded to all grade levels.
