My Story is Not Unique

I was a sophomore in high school when I was sexually assaulted by a fellow student. I did what students are told to do, I reported to the police and to my school. What I found instead was a maze of inconsistent rules, unclear reporting options, and adults who were unsure of their obligations or more focused on institutional liability than student safety. There was no clear plan for my protection. No guaranteed academic accommodations. No safeguard against retaliation. No assurance that my education would not become collateral damage.

For K 12 students, survivor protections depend on zip code, district interpretation, and the willingness of adults to act. There is no consistent, enforceable standard that ensures student survivors are protected, supported, and able to continue their education without harm.

This is not a rare failure. It is systemic.

Every year, students across the country experience sexual violence while enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools. When they disclose, many are met with disbelief, procedural confusion, or silence. Some are pushed out academically. Others are re-traumatized through poorly handled investigations or forced proximity to perpetrators. Too many are left to navigate trauma alone while being expected to perform as if nothing happened.

We can do better. We must do better.  Students are being harmed right now by a system that was never designed with them in mind.

Sexual violence in our schools isn't rare, it's alarmingly common:

1 in 5 children will be sexually abused before they turn 18.
1 in 9 high school students (11%) were forced to do sexual things they did not want to do in the past year, including kissing, touching, or being physically forced to have sexual intercourse.
Reports of sexual violence in public schools rose by 55% between 2015 and 2018, highlighting a growing crisis rather than an isolated problem
Yet most schools are completely unprepared to help them.

The Solution is The K-12 Student Survivor Bill of Rights.

The K-12 Student Survivor Bill of Rights would establish minimum federal protections for students who experience sexual violence, creating a safety net that currently doesn't exist.

This bill would guarantee:

✓ Mandatory trauma-informed training for all school staff, from teachers to administrators to security personnel, so they know how to respond appropriately when a student discloses sexual violence

✓ Clear reporting protocols and timelines so students know exactly what happens when they report, who will be informed, and what their options are

✓ Student rights to confidential advocacy and accommodations, including schedule changes, counseling access, and academic support, without having to prove their case or face their perpetrator

✓ Real consequences for noncompliance, including federal funding reviews and mandated corrective action plans for schools that fail to meet requirements

✓ Regular audits of Title IX implementation to ensure schools aren't just checking boxes but actually protecting students

✓ Accessible information about student rights, written in age-appropriate language and available in multiple formats, so every student knows their Title IX coordinator and how to get help

What We're Asking

We call on members of the U.S.  Senate and Congress and state legislators to:

✓ Sponsor and co-sponsor the Student Survivor Bill of Rights at both federal and state levels.

✓ Hold hearings to examine current gaps in K-12 sexual violence protections and hear from survivors, educators, and Title IX experts.

✓ Prioritize passage of this legislation in the 2026 legislative session.

✓ Allocate funding for implementation, training, and enforcement.

✓ Commit publicly to protecting K-12 students from sexual violence.
  

Your Signature = Your Voice

By signing this petition, you're telling lawmakers that K-12 students deserve better. You're demanding accountability. You're saying that no child should navigate sexual violence alone.

After you sign:

✓ Share your story in the comments or our submission form and share this petition with educators, parents, survivors, advocates, and anyone who cares about student safety!

Together, we can create a system where every student who experiences sexual violence gets the support, protection, and justice they deserve. It's time to turn our outrage into action. It's time to pass the Student Survivor Bill of Rights.

With a Steady Heart, 

Emily Tavarez - Founder, Ripple and Rise