La Grange School District 105

Why is this curriculum being introduced in District 105?    Erin’s Law (in Illinois, Public Act 96-1524) mandates that Illinois public schools provide training to certified staff on prevention of child sexual abuse. It also mandates that public school children pre-kindergarten through 12th grade be educated on how to protect themselves from sexual abuse.

What is the material that will be covered?  District 105 has adopted the Think First & Stay Safe™ Curriculum, which is recommended and approved by the State of Illinois Board of Education.  Think First & Stay Safe™ is a research-based program that provides students with specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons, video and PowerPoint presentations, posters, role playing and corresponding Student Workbook activities.    

Lessons objectives will differ according to student age.  In the Pre-K through Grade 2 range, the focus of lessons will include:   using our brains to stay healthy and safe; ways of showing kindness and respect to others; standing up for safety; understanding bullying and harassment; listening to and trusting instincts; choosing safe strangers; and safe and healthy boundaries. 

The focus of lessons for our 3-4 grade students will include all of the lessons provided in the earlier grades, with additional information to include: safe and healthy boundaries; bullying and harassment prevention; recognizing specific abuse lures that may be used; and internet safety.

For students in grade 5-6, lesson content will include all of the lessons provided in the earlier grades, with additional information to include:  safe and healthy boundaries; bullying and harassment prevention; recognizing specific abuse lures that may be used; and cyberbullying and internet harassment. 

Our middle school students will have a component of their health class devoted to body rights safety that will be taught in cooperation with the Pillars Community Organization.  The focus of these lessons will include:  respectful relationships; healthy relationships; internet safety and recognizing specific lures that may be used. 

Lessons are taught by the social worker who works in your child’s school. In some cases, we may bring a staff member from another building to help address scheduling or language needs.  Each school social worker has received training in the Think First & Stay Safe™ curriculum, and has been supported in initial curriculum implementation through a community partnership with Pillars Community Services.

Each student in District 105 Schools will participate in lessons utilizing this curriculum.  We hope all parents will partner with us to educate our children, but you do have the right to refuse participation. If you do not wish your child to participate, an opt-out form will be available for families.

How will staff be trained?  All District staff will be trained in September, 2014 by child sexual abuse advocates and prevention education specialists from Pillars Community Services.  Source material for those trainings is from the Child Lures Prevention Program, the organization responsible for the Think First & Stay Safe curriculum.   Staff members will learn about sexual abuse and how offenders identify potential victims. They will learn about the warning signs of sexual abuse and how those signs differ depending upon the age of the child. Staff members will also learn what to do and not do if a child discloses to them, and how to report potential sexual abuse.

Each school and grade level will have the lessons implemented during the fall and winter of this school year.  Two weeks prior to the social worker’s lessons in the classroom, parents will receive a letter indicating the specific lesson objectives and the starting date of the curriculum.  An opt out form will be made available at that time, as well. 

The lessons will be conducted within each school, with combined classes of the same grade-level, when appropriate. These lessons may be in a classroom, in the multi-purpose room, or School Library.