When a child is sexually abused by another student, the school that was responsible for keeping that child safe often shares the blame. PCVA represents children and families in Washington and nationwide when a school or district fails to protect a student from sexual abuse or assault by a peer. We hold those institutions accountable for the harm their negligence allowed, and we do this work with care for the privacy and wellbeing of every family we represent.
What is student-on-student sexual abuse?
Student-on-student sexual abuse, also called peer sexual abuse, is sexual contact or conduct forced on one student by another. It ranges from unwanted touching and coercion to assault and rape, and it can include non-contact conduct such as sexual harassment, exposure, or the sharing of sexual images. Because the students involved are often minors, these cases call for particular sensitivity. The central legal question is usually not only what one student did, but whether the school knew or should have known about the risk and failed to act on it.
Can a school be held responsible when one student abuses another?
Often, yes. Schools have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect students from foreseeable harm, including harm caused by other students. When a school ignores warning signs, fails to supervise, mishandles an earlier complaint, or leaves a known risk unaddressed, it can be held responsible for the abuse that follows. Two legal frameworks commonly apply:
- Title IX. Schools that receive federal funding can be liable when they are deliberately indifferent to known sexual harassment or assault between students that is severe enough to deny a student equal access to their education.
- Negligent supervision and related claims. Washington law allows families to hold a district accountable for failing to supervise students, failing to act on earlier reports, or failing to follow its own safety and reporting policies.
PCVA investigates what the school knew, when it knew it, and what it did or failed to do in response. That record is frequently where these cases are won.
Where does student-on-student abuse most often happen?
Peer abuse tends to occur where supervision is thinnest: bathrooms, locker rooms, playgrounds, buses, and the unsupervised gaps between activities. National data reflects how common it is. An Associated Press analysis cited by the National Education Association found that for every reported adult-on-student sexual assault in schools, there were roughly seven assaults by one student on another. Gaps in supervision are not unavoidable accidents. They are choices a school makes, and the law expects schools to anticipate them and close them.
What are the signs a child may have been harmed?
Signs vary with a child’s age and may appear physically, emotionally, or behaviorally. They can include:
- Sudden withdrawal, isolation, or fear of being alone
- Regression to earlier habits, such as bedwetting or thumb sucking
- New fear of a specific place, person, or of school itself
- Reluctance to attend school or ride the bus
- Changes in sleep, eating, or mood, including anger and acting out
- Age-inappropriate sexual knowledge or behavior
- Declining grades or loss of interest in activities
- Physical signs of trauma
Trust your instincts. If something has changed and you cannot explain it, it is worth asking gentle questions and seeking support.
What should I do if my child was abused by another student at school?
- Make sure your child is safe and separated from further contact with the other student.
- Seek medical care and mental health support. A trauma-informed therapist can help your child begin to heal.
- Report the abuse to the school in writing, and request a written copy of the school’s Title IX policy and its sexual harassment and student safety policies.
- Write down what happened and when, including names, dates, and every conversation with school staff. Keep emails and documents.
- You may also report to local law enforcement and to the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Talk to an attorney experienced in school abuse cases before signing anything from the district or its insurer.
Your child is not to blame for what happened, and seeking help is the right thing to do.
What are the long-term effects of abuse?
Sexual abuse can affect a child long after the event. Children may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, difficulty trusting others, and trouble at school. Left unaddressed, that harm can follow a survivor into adulthood and contribute to lasting emotional and physical health problems. Early, trauma-informed support makes a meaningful difference, which is why connecting your child with care matters as much as anything else.
How long do I have to file a claim in Washington?
For childhood sexual abuse that occurs on or after June 6, 2024, Washington has eliminated the civil statute of limitations, which means there is no deadline to bring a claim. PCVA and our clients helped pass that law, House Bill 1618. For abuse that occurred before that date, earlier deadlines may apply, generally a three-year period tied to when the survivor discovered the harm and its connection to the abuse. Because the rules turn on specific facts, the safest step is to ask us. You can learn more on our Washington statute of limitations page.
How PCVA helps
PCVA has represented thousands of sexual abuse survivors and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars by holding the institutions and individuals that failed them accountable. We approach this work in a trauma-informed way that respects the privacy and the pace of every family. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means you owe no fee unless we recover for you. If your child was harmed by another student at school, we are here to listen. Request a free, confidential consultation or call us toll free at 1 (800) 349-PCVA.
Our results in school and institutional abuse cases
$154,000,000+ sexual abuse settlements for survivors of abuse at Kiwanis Vocational Home
$30,000,000 sexual abuse jury verdict on behalf of survivor of child sexual assault at an after-school program against the Newark Board of Education and City of Newark
$18,000,000 sexual abuse settlement in landmark case against the State of Washington for 2 sisters sexually abused in foster care
$8,000,000 child sexual abuse jury verdict against Oblate Fathers Western Province for religious order child sexual abuse
$4.25M settlement against the Issaquah School District in a sexual assault case
$4.2M settlement against the University Place School District
$3M settlement against Seattle Public Schools
$500K verdict in a Bethel High School sexual abuse case
See more results
Confidential help and resources
Support is available at any hour, whether or not you decide to pursue a claim.
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
- RAINN: rainn.org
If your child was abused by another student at school and you would like our help, contact PCVA for a free and confidential conversation.