Rhode Island § 16-22-26 - Curriculum [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]

§ 16-22-26. Age appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness education.

(a) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as “Erin Merryn’s Law.”

(b) Prevention of child abduction, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse.

(1) All pupils in grades kindergarten through eight (8) in all public schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction, exploitation, or sexual abuse of children. Such instruction shall be provided by, or under the direct supervision of, regular classroom teachers; provided, however, that such instruction may be provided by any other agency, public or private.

(2) The department of elementary and secondary education shall continue to provide guidance and materials on age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention. The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to assist in the development of curricula that shall be age-appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness skills, information, self-confidence, and support to aid in the prevention of child abduction, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse.

(c) Action by school committees. The school committees of the several cities, towns, and school districts shall provide for the incorporation of the curricula described herein into existing health education courses.