Cameron Miranda
In 2014, South Carolina passed Erin's Law as an amendment to the Comprehensive Health Act of 1988. Erin's Law mandates that students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention annually. The law aims to empower students with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from sexual assault and to report any incidents that may occur. The South Carolina State Department of Education developed instructional units as a resource guide for educators to implement Erin's Law, which are aligned with the state's academic standards for health and safety education. While the lesson content varies by grade, parents can access a copy of each lesson at their child's school.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To ensure that all students in Pre-Kindergarten through High School receive prevention instruction during the academic year |
| Intent | To equip students with the knowledge and skills to remain safe from sexual assault and how to make a report if an assault occurs |
| Instructional units | Written as a resource guide for educators to implement Erin's Law |
| Alignment | Aligned with the South Carolina Academic Health and Safety Education |
| Lesson content | Varies from grade to grade and is available for preview at the school |
| Lesson presenter | A counselor or PE teacher |
| Lesson context | Not part of sexuality education; only discusses age-appropriate health and safety education |
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What You'll Learn
Sexual abuse and assault awareness
Erin's Law, named after childhood sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, is legislation passed in South Carolina in 2014. It requires that all students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention annually. The law aims to give students the skills to recognise and report sexual assault and stay safe.
The South Carolina Department of Education has developed instructional units for educators to implement Erin's Law, which are aligned with the state's Academic Health and Safety Education standards. These units serve as a resource guide for teachers and vary in content depending on the grade level. While Erin's Law mandates the availability of this curriculum, it does not explicitly require that it be taught in schools.
Sexual assault awareness education is not a primary focus in South Carolina schools, and there is currently no clear, state-mandated policy on responding to sexual assault reports. However, schools are allowed to teach Erin's Law and sexual assault awareness and prevention education as they deem appropriate.
The law's impact in South Carolina schools has been mixed. While it provides a framework for educators to address sexual abuse and assault prevention, there are concerns about the extent to which it is effectively taught to students. Some students have reported learning about Erin's Law but not receiving comprehensive education on sexual abuse recognition and prevention.
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Age-appropriate instruction
In 2014, South Carolina passed Erin's Law as an amendment to the Comprehensive Health Act. Erin's Law requires that all students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention annually. The law was proposed by childhood sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, who has been lobbying each state to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program in their public schools. As of 2024, 38 states in the US have passed Erin's Law.
The South Carolina Department of Education has developed instructional units for educators to implement Erin's Law. These units are aligned with the state's Academic Health and Safety Education standards and the content varies from grade to grade. The law intends to give students the skills to know how to stay safe from sexual assault and how to report any incidents. This includes teaching students about personal body safety and how to speak up if they are being abused.
While Erin's Law is now mandatory in South Carolina, there is some ambiguity around how it is taught in schools. One source suggests that the curriculum is available but not necessarily taught. Another source states that schools can teach Erin's Law and sexual assault awareness and prevention education as they see fit. This may be due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter.
South Carolina's Early Learning Standards (SC-ELS) provide a shared vision for the education of the state's children and aim to prepare them for success in school and life. The standards include a set of goals and developmental indicators for children from birth through kindergarten entry. It is important that any instruction on sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention is age-appropriate and takes into account the developmental stage of the students.
First graders in South Carolina are typically six or seven years old and are still developing emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Age-appropriate instruction for first graders under Erin's Law would focus on basic personal body safety and introducing the concept of consent. This might include teaching students about appropriate and inappropriate touching, privacy, and respecting others' bodies. The instruction should be delivered in a simple and accessible manner, using language that is easy for first graders to understand. It should also emphasize that it is safe and important to tell a trusted adult if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
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Lesson content varies by grade
Erin's Law, named after childhood sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, requires that all public schools in each state implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. The 2014 amendment to the Comprehensive Health Act in South Carolina requires that all students in grades 4K-12 receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention.
The lesson content varies by grade, with the material being adapted to suit the maturity and understanding of the students in question. For younger students, the focus is on personal body safety and speaking up. They learn about private parts of the body and that it is okay to say no to unwanted touch or attention. They are taught to identify trusted adults and how to speak to them about any concerns.
As students get older, the curriculum becomes more detailed. Students learn about different types of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual. They discuss the dynamics of power and control in abusive relationships and the impact of abuse on victims. They also learn about healthy relationships, consent, and setting boundaries.
In middle school and high school, the curriculum becomes more nuanced. Students explore the legal definitions of abuse and assault, the impact of substance abuse on decision-making, and the role of bystanders. They discuss the long-term effects of trauma and the process of reporting and seeking help. They also learn about digital safety and the potential risks of online interactions.
While the specific curriculum content varies by grade, the overall goal remains consistent: to empower students with knowledge, skills, and resources to protect themselves and others from sexual abuse and assault. The curriculum aims to promote awareness, encourage help-seeking behaviours, and foster healthy relationships.
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Instructional units for educators
Erin's Law, named after childhood sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, was passed in South Carolina in 2014. The law requires that students in grades 4K-12 receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention annually.
The South Carolina Department of Education has provided instructional units for educators as a resource guide to implement Erin's Law. These units are aligned with the South Carolina Academic Health and Safety Education standards. The lesson content varies from grade to grade.
Unit 1: Understanding Personal Body Safety
- Introduce the concept of personal body safety to students.
- Define and explain what is meant by "private parts" of the body in an age-appropriate manner.
- Teach students about appropriate and inappropriate touching, emphasizing that their body belongs to them and they have the right to say no to any touch that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Encourage students to identify trusted adults they can talk to if they feel unsafe, such as parents, caregivers, or teachers.
Unit 2: Recognizing and Reporting Abuse
- Help students understand what sexual abuse is and that it is wrong and not their fault.
- Teach students the different forms that sexual abuse can take, including physical, verbal, and non-verbal forms.
- Instruct students on how to recognize the signs of abuse, such as feeling scared, confused, or having secrets that make them feel bad about themselves.
- Provide scenarios or role-playing activities to practice identifying abuse and reporting it to a trusted adult or authority figure.
Unit 3: Practicing Assertiveness and Safety Skills
- Focus on building students' assertiveness skills to help them stand up for themselves and say no to potential abusers.
- Teach students simple and clear phrases they can use to assert their boundaries, such as "Stop, I don't like that" or "This makes me feel uncomfortable."
- Encourage students to role-play different scenarios where they can practice using their assertiveness skills and identifying safe and unsafe situations.
- Highlight the importance of seeking help and reporting any incidents or concerns to a trusted adult.
Unit 4: Identifying Trusted Adults and Support Systems
- Help students identify and recognize trusted adults in their lives, such as parents, caregivers, teachers, school counselors, or other support staff.
- Discuss the concept of confidentiality and explain that they can share personal information with trusted adults without it being shared with others (except in cases where there is a concern for their safety).
- Provide information about local support systems and resources available to students and their families, such as counseling services or child protection services.
These instructional units can be adapted to align with the specific needs and cultural context of the student population. It is important for educators to create a safe and non-judgmental learning environment when teaching these sensitive topics.
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Approved curriculum materials
Erin's Law, named after childhood sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, requires that all public schools implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. The law has been passed in 38 states in the US, including South Carolina, where it applies to students from pre-kindergarten to school seniors.
The 2014 Erin's Law amendment to the Comprehensive Health Act requires that all students in grades 4K-12 receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention annually. The Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1988 requires that each school board appoint a Comprehensive Health Education (CHE) Advisory Committee to assist in the selection of curriculum components and materials.
Instructional units have been written as a resource guide for educators to implement Erin's Law. These units are aligned with the South Carolina Academic Health and Safety Education. The Charleston County School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees has approved the use of these units, and the adopted CCSD curriculum resources for elementary schools can be found on their website.
The content of the lessons varies from grade to grade, and the curriculum is designed to give students the skills to know how to stay safe from sexual assault and how to report any incidents. However, there is some ambiguity around the implementation of Erin's Law in South Carolina schools, with some students reporting that they were not clearly taught about sexual abuse and how to recognize it.
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Frequently asked questions
Erin's Law is a 2014 amendment to the Comprehensive Health Act that requires students in grades 4K-12 to receive age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention annually.
The purpose of Erin's Law is to ensure that students in pre-kindergarten through high school are equipped with the knowledge and skills to stay safe from sexual assault and know how to report an assault if it occurs.
The curriculum for Erin's Law in South Carolina first grade varies from district to district but generally covers age-appropriate health and safety education related to sexual abuse and assault prevention.
In South Carolina, Erin's Law is typically taught by a counselor or PE teacher.
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