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K-12 ADULT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT PREVENTION

ALTERNATE TERMS FOR ASM USED IN THIS GUIDANCE

Throughout this document, the term “ASM” (or adult sexual misconduct) is used to include all inappropriate and illegal forms of sexual interaction with children in school settings. However, some research cited in this guidance examined a specific subset of inappropriate or illegal behaviors, or terms used such as “child exploitation,” “child maltreatment,” or “child sexual abuse” in their studies. In these instances, the terms used by the researchers will be described and distinguished from ASM. Also, for the purposes of this guidance, ASM does not refer to child sexual abuse in nonschool settings or by persons not affiliated with the school, such as family members or friends in the home or community.

Examples of School Personnel Conduct	Appropriate	Inappropriate/Harmful
Verbal / Written / Online Communications	Praise Positive reinforcement for good work or behavior Humor and friendly comments Compliments that are not personal in nature Interactions with students in plain sight of all, with doors open	Sexually provocative or degrading comments Risque jokes Singled-out student(s) for favors Written greeting card messages, notes, texts, emails, social media posts, or yearbook inscriptions that are highly personal in nature Suggestive teasing that references matters of gender or contains sexual innuendo
Physical Conduct	Personal contact in safe-touch areas (i.e., shoulders, upper back, arms, head, and hands) as long as the behavior is obviously appropriate, such as when giving a handshake or a pat on the back Legitimate nonsexual touching, such as a high school athletic coach hugging a student who made a goal or a kindergarten teacher’s consoling hug for a child with a skinned knee	Patting the buttocks Hugging if the child is not receptive, if the staff member is hugging too often, or for too long, or if the contact is romanticized or sexually intimate Touching that is intimate, romantic, or sexual in nature Meeting students away from school grounds during out-of-school hours or taking them away from school grounds before or after school Using corporal punishment Showing printed or web-based pornography and/or engaging students in pornographic activities Being alone in a locked room with a student Using cyberspace to interact privately with a student, or without other’s knowledge, consent, and supervision

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