Interviewing children about sensitive allegations is one of the most delicate responsibilities K-12 investigators face. The choices you make before the first question is even asked can have a profound impact on a child’s comfort level.

When news breaks that a staff member has been arrested—even for conduct outside of school and unrelated to their job—it can send shockwaves through a district. A calm, coordinated, and robust response to an employee arrest protects students while safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the school community.

From June 1 to August 15, 2025, 51 school employees across the U.S. were arrested for sex-based criminal conduct involving students. In Part II of our case study, we focus on what schools can do to prepare, respond, and prevent harm.

At least 51 school employees across the United States were arrested for sexual misconduct involving students from June 1 to August 15, 2025. This is Part One of a two-part series analyzing these arrests and identifying concrete steps schools can take to prevent and prepare.

In today’s education and youth-serving environments, one allegation of misconduct can escalate quickly — sometimes leading to prolonged student harm, costly lawsuits, damaged reputations, and public distrust.

As schools reopen their doors and welcome students back for a new academic year, staff training must be more than a checklist item—it should be the foundation for a safe, supportive, and compliant school culture.

When it comes to preventing sexual misconduct in schools, we often focus on policies, consequences, and adult interventions. But there’s a powerful, often untapped resource right in the classroom: student bystanders.

A flawed investigation doesn’t just jeopardize student safety—it can result in legal consequences, community mistrust, and lasting harm to those involved.

Much of the existing guidance, training, and policy frameworks around Title IX and misconduct response are tailored to higher education environments. But K–12 schools are not mini-colleges.