At Licking Heights Local Schools, the safety and well-being of our students is a top priority. In accordance with Ohio law, public schools are required to provide developmentally appropriate instruction designed to help students recognize unsafe situations, understand personal boundaries, develop protective skills, and access trusted adults and community resources when they need support. Ohio's child protection education requirements include annual instruction in child sexual abuse prevention for students in grades K–6 and developmentally appropriate instruction in dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention for students in grades 7–12.

To meet these requirements, Licking Heights utilizes research-based curricula and instructional practices designed to support students' social-emotional growth, personal safety skills, and healthy relationship development at every grade level.

Students in grades K–4 participate in the Second Step Child Protection Unit. These age-appropriate lessons teach children important personal safety concepts, including recognizing safe and unsafe situations, understanding personal boundaries, identifying trusted adults, and learning how to seek help when they feel unsafe. The curriculum emphasizes empowerment, prevention, and the development of lifelong safety skills in a supportive learning environment.

Students in grades 5–8 receive instruction through the Project REACH curriculum. Project REACH provides age-appropriate education focused on personal safety, healthy relationships, recognizing grooming behaviors, understanding consent and boundaries, preventing abuse, and accessing support resources. The curriculum encourages students to develop the knowledge and confidence needed to recognize concerning situations and seek assistance from trusted adults.

Students in grades 9–12 receive instruction related to healthy relationships, personal safety, consent, dating violence prevention, sexual violence prevention, and accessing support resources through the district's health education curriculum. Lessons are designed to meet Ohio's requirements for prevention education while providing students with age-appropriate opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to establish respectful relationships, recognize warning signs of unhealthy or abusive behaviors, understand the importance of consent, and seek help for themselves or others when needed.

Instruction emphasizes personal responsibility, effective communication, respect for self and others, and awareness of school and community resources available to support student safety and well-being. Through these learning experiences, students are empowered to make informed decisions, advocate for themselves and others, and contribute to a safe and supportive school community.

Ohio law provides parents and guardians the opportunity to review instructional materials and request that their child be excused from participating in child sexual abuse prevention, dating violence prevention, or sexual violence prevention instruction. Licking Heights values family partnerships and encourages parents and guardians to contact their child's school with any questions regarding curriculum content or instructional materials.

Through these educational experiences, Licking Heights strives to create a safe, supportive environment where all students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to protect themselves, build healthy relationships, and seek help when needed.