The state of Ohio passed Erin’s Law in December 2022 after years of conflict in the state legislature and two failures.
The state of Ohio passed Erin’s Law in December 2022 after years of conflict in the state legislature and two failures. The legislation aims to protect children from sexual abuse in an educational setting and beyond.
Erin Merryn, a survivor of child sexual abuse, inspired the name of the law. Her home state of Illinois became the first state “by law to require the child sexual abuse prevention,” in order to protect those in danger.
According to CDC statistics, “1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys are likely to be sexually abused by their 18th birthday.” In more than 90% of cases, “the child knows and trusts their abuser.”
In 2020, a teacher employed at Springboro Schools was convicted of sexual abuse. Dozens of first grade girls were subjected to the 25-year-old’s inappropriate behavior, unbeknownst to parents and school administrators. The district and county were outraged.
Warren County Representative Scott Lipps stated that the girls’ parents found out after their daughters returned from school visibly upset. One parent approached her daughter, who then said that she didn’t get “the reward.” When prompted further, she clarified: “I didn’t get to sit on his lap or get my back rubbed.”
Lipps believes that Erin’s Law might have prevented this behavior if it was established at the time. “Children are innocent, they’re naive," he said. "These children didn’t know they were being abused, the difference between good touch and bad touch.”
Erin’s Law teaches children aged K-12 to identify abuse and its patterns, as well as the benefits of confiding in a trusted adult. The curriculum, implemented for the first time this year, provides flexibility to grow with students as they age and their sexual identities shift.
“It is very intentional to make sure that students are receiving information that is appropriate for their age," said Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro. The learning environment is “tailored to the developmental needs of different students.”
Previous concerns about Erin’s Law related to the idea of labeling certain educational topics as “sexual content.” Proponents of this newly established legislature clarify that it does not center around sexual content – in fact, it is truly “about protecting the safety of our kids.”
Additionally, districts are able to modify their instruction to better support students’ unique situations. The Dayton public school district specifically hopes to help students who do not have stable housing arrangements. Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence emphasizes the urgency within this population: “We know for a fact that [they are] more at risk to be violated and taken advantage of.”
Dr. Lawrence and Scott Lipps both hope that this progress will continue, stating that discomfort surrounding these nuanced topics harms those affected. They have already noticed students beginning to come forward throughout early stages of education under the law.
Ohio is the 38th state in the country to pass Erin’s Law. The legislature is currently pending in 12 additional states.
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
