New Bill Aims To Protect Private School Students From Abuse

Sen. John Brooks (D-Seaford) has put forward legislation in the state Senate that would force private schools to report child abuse committed by school employees.

Under current law, public schools are required to inform law enforcement about any abuse that staff or volunteers commit. However, private schools are exempt from that rule. The law that Brooks put forward closes the gap and makes private schools report abuse as well.

"Accounts of students being sexually abused in private school settings are all too common," Brooks said. "It is inconceivable that these schools remain free to handle abuse allegations in whatever way they see fit, often protecting the school’s institutional reputation at the expense of its students’ safety."

Brooks' law passed the Senate Committee on Children and Families on April 4, and is now waiting for a vote on the Senate floor.

"It is critical that the 475,000 private school students in New York state receive the same protection from child abuse by school personnel that are in place for public school students," said Mary L. Pulido, executive director of The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. "The current double standard leaves children at risk. Private schools should not be permitted to escape scrutiny and accountability when teachers, or other school staff, abuse a student."

The bill is being sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., a Democrat from Sag Harbor.

"There is a serious legislative gap which leaves hundreds of thousands of New York students vulnerable," Brooks said. "It’s our job as legislators to protect them and close this glaring oversight."

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