Why Parents Assume Schools Have Good Body Safety & Abuse Prevention Policies—And Why That’s a Problem

Here are the average times kids spend at school: 

Kindergarten: Around 15 to 30 hours per week

• Half-day programs: 3–4 hours per day (15–20 hours per week)
• Full-day programs: 6 hours per day (30 hours per week)

Elementary School (Grades 1–5 or 6): Around 30 to 35 hours per week

• Most schools have a 6- to 7-hour school day, five days a week.

That's a lot of time to trust our kids to a school (and system) that we hardly know...

We drop off our kids hoping that they will have a good day, make friends, not be bullied, eat their lunch, have a compassionate teacher, don't get hurt on the playground, get included in team sports, that the teacher makes learning fun, that they don't fall behind academically, or that their school won't ever have to experience a school shooting (a legitimate concern in the U.S.).

And we receive student or school handbooks that cover everything from food allergy policies, anti-bullying policies, fire drills, classroom conduct, lunch schedules, classroom structure, and on and on and on... But no where does it talk about body safety education or abuse prevention- because we assume that when kids are at school they don't have to worry about those things. 

We send our kids to school every day with the assumption that they are in a safe, protected environment. We trust that schools have policies in place to prevent harm, especially when it comes to body safety and abuse prevention. But what if that assumption is wrong?

The truth is, many schools lack comprehensive abuse prevention policies—not because they don’t care, but because there are gaps in training, education, and proactive measures.

So why do so many parents assume that schools have this covered? Let’s break it down.

Trust in Institutions

We instinctively trust schools as safe spaces because they are government-regulated, employ trained professionals, and require background checks for staff. But background checks alone don’t prevent abuse, and most teachers receive little to no specialized training in body safety or abuse prevention.

By the way, background checks are not foolproof, especially when schools don't do their due diligence because they're understaffed, and they may overlook thorough reference checks or look deeper at why a teacher was let go from another school. And besides that, not all offenders have been caught, or convicted or put on a sex-offender registry. Just some starting points to consider.

The “Mandatory Reporter” Myth

Many parents believe that because teachers and school staff are mandated reporters, they must also be well-trained in recognizing and preventing abuse. However, mandated reporting only applies when abuse is already suspected or disclosed—not before.

Many (maybe most) educators aren’t trained in abuse prevention, which means warning signs may be missed. And unless you're asking your school about this, you may be making a faulty assumption that could put your child at risk.

School Safety Policies Sound Good on Paper

Most schools have general policies that mention student safety, bullying, and harassment, but that doesn’t mean they have a specific, proactive approach to body safety education.

Safety policies often focus on physical security measures like locked doors, visitor check-ins, and emergency drills rather than personal safety education. Without direct curriculum integration, topics like bodily autonomy, consent, and recognizing unsafe behavior may not be covered at all. OR they may assume that this will be covered in health class as part of the basic sex-ed curriculum. 

Parents must ask whether body safety is actually taught in the classroom or just assumed as part of general school safety.

The “Good School” Assumption

If a school has an excellent reputation—strong academics, great teachers, engaged parents—there’s a natural assumption that they must also prioritize body safety education. Unfortunately, being a “good school” academically doesn’t mean they have strong abuse prevention policies.

Many high-performing schools focus heavily on test scores and curriculum while overlooking the importance of child protection policies and training. Abuse can happen anywhere, regardless of a school’s academic standing, and it’s crucial that prevention measures are in place before harm occurs.

The Discomfort Factor

Let’s be honest—talking about child sexual abuse can feel uncomfortable. Many parents don’t ask about body safety policies simply because they assume if there was a problem, someone else would have already addressed it. However, discomfort leads to silence, and silence creates gaps where abuse can occur unnoticed.

Parents may feel that bringing up this topic could make them seem paranoid or overly cautious, but in reality, asking tough questions is a sign of responsible parenting. Schools need to normalize conversations about abuse prevention, ensuring that all students receive education on boundaries, personal safety, and appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior, especially in light of increasing rates of peer-to-peer sexual violence- even at the elementary school level.

The Reality: Schools Often Lack Comprehensive Prevention Policies

Here’s the hard truth:

• Many schools don’t teach explicit body safety lessons.

• Educators often don’t receive ongoing prevention training.

• Schools may have reactionary policies (addressing abuse after it happens) rather than preventative measures.

• Volunteer screening and staff background checks aren’t foolproof.

What Parents Can Do

Parents have a powerful voice when it comes to advocating for their child’s safety.

Here’s how you can take action:

✔️ Ask direct questions about body safety education and abuse prevention policies at your child’s school.

✔️ Advocate for evidence-based training like Stewards of Children® for school staff.

✔️ Request a comprehensive abuse prevention curriculum to be included in health and safety education.

✔️ Get involved in your school’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) to push for policy improvements.

Taking Action!!!

It’s time to move beyond assumptions and take an active role in ensuring schools are truly safe for our kids.

Body safety education and abuse prevention aren’t “extras”—they are essentials. 

If your child’s school doesn’t have clear policies and training in place, be the voice that calls for change.

Want to learn more about how to advocate for your child’s safety? Check out my BRAND NEW 4-week program called Parent Advocacy Pack. You can learn all about it here!

And if you'd like me to come to your child's school to train the school staff, click here.

We can all make our kids schools safer by getting educated, informed and taking action!