Des Moines, Iowa — A legislator who’s worked to pass state laws to crack down on the sexual exploitation of students by school employees is proposing more protections.
Educators are “mandatory reporters” that are to let law enforcement know when they suspect an adult in a school is abusing a student, but Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids says if a student is over the age of 12, reporting of such cases is discretionary — meaning it’s not required.
Jones says state law should require educators to report suspected sexual exploitation of students of any age, including all of the students in high school.
According to Jones, two House committees have been working on legislation to address the issue.
