The mission of the Mat-Su Borough School District is to “prepare all students for success.” In order to be successful, students must be safe. Providing all students with information and skills on how to protect themselves and seek help from abusive situations keeps students emotionally and physically safe.
To increase awareness and reduce the prevalence of sexual violence, Alaska has passed legislation called the Alaska Safe Children’s Act or Erin’s and Bree’s Law.
AS 14.30.355 (Erin’s Law) requires that the governing body of each school district adopt and implement a policy, establish a training program for employees and students, and provide parental notices relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve.
AS 14.30.356 (Bree’s Law) requires that the governing body of each school district adopt and implement a policy, establish a training program for employees and students, and provide parental notices relating to dating violence and abuse in grades seven through twelve. A training program adopted under this section must emphasize prevention and awareness
In 2015, the Alaska Office of Children’s Services investigated 1,272 reports of sexual abuse of children perpetrated by members of the immediate or extended family.
In 2015, 1 in 10 high school students had been physically abused by their dating partner, and 1 in 10 had been sexually abused by their dating partner. (Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
MSBSD’s health curriculum addresses age-appropriate personal safety lessons in grades Kindergarten through ninth grade. In implementing the new laws, all grade levels will receive lessons on sexual abuse awareness and prevention. In addition, seventh through twelfth-grade students will have lessons taught on healthy relationships, dating violence and prevention.