11: Addressing Dating and Domestic Violence in PreK–16 Schools: Issues and Best Practices

Despite it being one of the most frequent forms of violence affecting young people in the United States, dating violence has received far too little attention. Furthermore, given that the majority of youth and young adults meet and date partners at their schools and universities, dating violence has a significant impact on educational settings. As such, educational systems should provide not only prevention programs but also clear and effective policies to assist victims and to hold abusers accountable. Yet the prevention and response efforts by educational schools and universities is mixed, at best. This chapter reviews the data regarding the scope and frequency of dating violence in preK–16 schools. It also provides details about state laws regarding prevention and response to dating and domestic violence on schools and campuses. Further, the chapter offers recommendations for best practices in dating and domestic violence prevention and response in an educational setting.