Know Your Rights: What to Do If You Are Sexually Harassed at School
Sex-based harassment can make it harder to feel safe, participate in class, or even want to go to school. But students have rights—and knowing what those rights are can make it easier to decide what to do next.
Created by Stop Sexual Assault in Schools (SSAIS) and the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), Dear Students: Do You Know Your Rights Against Sex-Based Harassment? is a practical guide for students and families navigating sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sex-based discrimination at school.
You Have the Right to Learn Without Sex-Based Harassment
Whether you’re starting at a new school or returning to one you know, you have the right to learn, participate and take part in school activities without sex-based harassment.
But knowing you have rights is only the beginning.
What happens if you are sexually harassed or assaulted? Who can you talk to? What can you ask your school to do? What happens after you make a report? And what are your options if your school doesn’t respond?
This guide was created to help students and families answer those questions.
Know Your Rights. Know Your Options.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, at schools that receive federal funding.
The legal and political landscape surrounding Title IX has changed significantly in recent years, making it especially important for students and families to understand both their federal rights and the additional protections that may be available under state and local law.
This toolkit helps you understand where to start, what information to find before you need it, and where to turn if you need support.
What Will You Find in the Toolkit?
Instead of talking about harassment only in abstract legal terms, the guide explores situations students may actually encounter at school.
You’ll learn more about:
- Sexually explicit deepfakes and nonconsensual image sharing
- What to consider if you’re afraid to report sexual harassment or assault
- Harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- Sex-based harassment that begins off campus but affects life at school
- The rights of students with disabilities
- Privacy, confidentiality and what may happen after making a report
- Supportive measures students can request from their schools
- Harassment based on gender stereotypes
- Sexual misconduct involving teachers or other school employees
- How students can respond to sexism and sex-based harassment
Throughout the guide, you’ll also find links to additional resources and organizations that can help.
Be Prepared Before There’s a Problem
Do you know where to find your school’s sexual harassment and discrimination policies?
Do you know who your Title IX Coordinator is?
Would you know how to document harassment if it happened to you or a friend?
The toolkit explains what information students and families should know how to find—including school and district policies, reporting procedures and contact information for the school or district’s Title IX Coordinator.
It also explains why keeping a record of incidents, reports, messages and other information can be important when discrimination or harassment occurs.
What If You Need Help Right Now?
You don’t necessarily have to wait for an investigation to be completed—or even participate in an investigation—to ask your school for help.
Students who experience sex-based harassment may be able to request supportive measures: individualized services or adjustments designed to help them remain safe and continue participating in school.
The guide also discusses questions students may want to ask before disclosing an assault, including whether the person they are talking to is required to report certain information to another agency or authority.
Knowing what may happen next can help students make more informed decisions about who they speak with and what support they want.
Your Rights Don’t Begin and End With Title IX
Federal Title IX protections are only part of the picture.
Students may also have protections under state and local civil rights laws. The toolkit connects readers with StateofStudentRights.com, where students and families can explore protections in their state, learn about possible avenues for filing a claim, find information about confidentiality and connect with organizations that may be able to provide support.
About This Collaboration
Dear Students: Do You Know Your Rights Against Sex-Based Harassment? was created through a collaboration between Stop Sexual Assault in Schools (SSAIS) and the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL).
SSAIS works to address gender-based harm impacting K-12 students. Collaborating with advocates, educators, researchers, policymakers, and communities, SSAIS advances practical approaches to prevention and response and strengthens school policies. SSAIS believes we can all help end the cycle of violence to ensure every student receives a safe and equitable education.
The National Center for Youth Law works to advance justice for children and young people and address barriers that affect their opportunities and well-being.
Together, SSAIS and NCYL created this student-focused resource to make information about rights, reporting, support and advocacy easier to understand and use.
Know Your Rights—and Share Them
You shouldn’t have to become an expert in education law to understand what your school should do when harassment happens.
This toolkit is designed to give students and families a place to start: understand your rights, learn what questions to ask, know where to find your school’s policies and identify resources that can help.
Download the guide, share it with a student, parent, educator or advocate, and help more young people know their rights at school.
Want to share what you’ve learned?
Turn information from this toolkit into a Youth Safety and Equity Info-Zine and help bring these conversations to your school or community.
