Special to the Lehigh Acres Gazette
Lehigh Acres middle school aged students outnumber high school students in discipline for sexual offenses, according to Florida Department of Education data.
During the 2014-15 school year, 126 middle school students were disciplined compared to 84 high school students, according to the most current data.
The number of students disciplined for sexual harassment and sexual offenses has risen steadily within the past three school years:
Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres had the highest number of sexual harassment discipline issues in Lehigh Acres.
The School District of Lee County declined interview, but a spokesperson said through email and phone that the aforementioned numbers represent a small percentage of students getting into trouble for sexual harassment.
Reports to law enforcement
Sexual harassment and sexual offenses are not as serious as sexual battery and sexual assault, which by law must be reported to law enforcement.
The state Department of Education does not require sexual harassment or sexual offenses to be reported to law enforcement, although some schools choose to do so.
School district prevention
Lee County schools utilize a program called ‘Smarter, Safer, Teens’ which focuses on sexual and dating violence and empowering students to speak out.