Sexual Harassment: Issues and Dilemmas

This paper presents findings of a study that identified the actions taken by states to deal with sexual harassment in school districts. It also provides a historical overview of federal legislation and court litigation related to sexual harassment, civil rights, and First Amendment rights. Data on state actions were derived from a survey of all state departments of education. Responses were received from 35 state department administrators and 1 from the District of Columbia. Findings indicate that each of the responding departments had either state guidelines and legislation or provided school districts with workshops, materials, and policies. Most had formal complaint procedures and comprehensive definitions of harassment, and they provided information on federal and state legislation to their districts. In addition, interpretation and practice of policy varied greatly among the Office of Civil Rights Regional Offices. Citing the statistic that 85-90 percent of sexual-harassment cases occur between students, it is recommended to take immediate action. Education requires participation by all social institutions and groups. Appendices contain summaries of state departments of education policies, state contact sources, and a copy of the state survey. (LMI)