New Law Says Schools Must Teach Dating Violence

New Jersey schools will have to teach students about dating violence next year, after Governor Chris Christie signed a law requiring them to do so earlier this month.

The new law asks schools to incorporate dating violence education into health classes in grades 7 through 12.

The law says students should learn what dating violence is and how to recognize it. The Department of Education will recommend educational resources on dating violence to school districts.

In addition to requiring schools to include dating violence in their health curricula, the new law also directs the Department of Education to develop a statewide dating violence policy for New Jersey schools. The policy will be developed by a task force established by the Department of Education, and must include guidelines for reporting and responding to at-school dating violence. 

Schools can also form their own policy, as long as it meets the law's requirements.

Assemblywoman Joan Voss (D-Fort Lee), a former high school teacher, was one of the law's primary sponsors.

"I've seen many cases of dating violence and I thought it was very important that we do something to stop it," she said. 

The bill passed unanimously in both the Senate and the Assembly. A few details, like who will make up the task force, haven't been established yet.

Voss said she hoped education would stop victimized teens from becoming victimized adults.

"If a teen experiences dating violence, then the probability is that they will marry somebody and they will become victims of domestic violence," she said.

Voss said even young students would benefit from learning about dating violence.

"Children are becoming much more sexually active at a very young age," she said.