7:185 - Teen Dating Violence Prohibited

Engaging in teen dating violence that takes place at school, on school property, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation is prohibited. For purposes of this policy, the term teen dating violence occurs whenever a student who is 13 to 19 years of age uses or threatens to use physical, mental, or emotional abuse to control an individual in the dating relationship; or uses or threatens to use sexual violence in the dating relationship. 

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and maintain a program to respond to incidents of teen dating violence that: 

1. Fully implements and enforces each of the following Board policies: 

a. 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure. This policy provides a method for any student, parent/guardian, employee, or community member to file a complaint if he or she believes that the School Board, its employees, or its agents have violated his or her rights under the State or federal Constitution, State or federal statute, Board policy, or various enumerated bases.

b. 2:265, Title IX Grievance Procedure. This policy prohibits a District employee, agent, or student from engaging in sexual harassment in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Prohibited conduct includes but is not limited to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

c. 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited. This policy prohibits any person, including a District employee, agent, or student, from harassing intimidating, or bullying a student based on the student’s actual or perceived characteristics of sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; and gender-related identity or expression (this policy includes more protected statuses).

d. 7:180, Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment. This policy prohibits students from engaging in bullying, intimidation, and harassment at school, school-related events and electronically. Prohibited conduct includes threats, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.

2. Encourages anyone with information about incidents of teen dating violence to report them to any of the following individuals: 

a. Any school staff member. School staff shall respond to incidents of teen dating violence by following the District’s established procedures for the prevention, identification, investigation, and response to bullying and school violence. 

b. The Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Building Principal, Assistant Building Principal, Dean of Students, or a Complaint Manager identified in policy 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited. 

3. Incorporates age-appropriate instruction in grades 7 through 12, in accordance with the District’s comprehensive health education program in Board policy 6:60, Curriculum Content. This includes incorporating student social and emotional development into the District’s educational program as required by State law and in alignment with Board policy 6:65, Student Social and Emotional Development. 

4. Incorporates education for school staff, as recommended by the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Building Principal, Assistant Building Principal, Dean of Students, or a Complaint Manager. 

5. Notifies students and parents/guardians of this policy. 

Incorporated 

by Reference: 7:180-AP1 (Prevention, Identification, Investigation, and Response to Bullying)

LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 110/3.10.

CROSS REF.: 2:240 (Board Policy Development), 2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedure), 2:265 (Title IX Grievance Procedure), 5:100 (Staff Development Program), 5:230 (Maintaining Student Discipline), 6:60 (Curriculum Content), 6:65 (Student Social and Emotional Development), 7:20 (Harassment of Students Prohibited), 7:180 (Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment), 7:190 (Student Behavior), 7:220 (Bus Conduct), 7:230 (Misconduct by Students with Disabilities), 7:240 (Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities)

Adopted:       June 23, 2025