About Learning Courage

Learning Courage is a nonprofit membership organization that works with K12 independent schools to reduce incidents, improve responses and support healing from sexual misconduct and abuse by guiding and advising on best practices, tools and resources.

OUR VISION

We aspire to eradicate sexual abuse in schools so children of all ages can thrive in their learning
environment. Learning Courage inspires cultural change in sexual abuse reduction and response
through its core values of ongoing learning, effective collaboration, genuine caring, and unwavering integrity.

Schools and Sexual Abuse

Today 1 in 3 females and 1 in 4 males experience sexual abuse in their lifetimes. And it starts early. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, more than 50% of this abuse for both males and females occurs before the age of 17. And these statistics are based only on reported incidents. According to United Educators, as many as 90% of incidents are never reported. Schools are responsible for maintaining an environment that prioritizes student safety. Prevention and response are essential ingredients to fulfilling this responsibility. While there are many resources available, there has been no centralized source for information, practices and tools to support school leaders. Until now.

We Connect Schools with the Resources to Help Prevent Abuse

Learning Courage gives school leaders the tools they need to reduce the number of incidents and respond appropriately when they do occur. Connecting schools with ground-breaking programs, best practices and both human and academic resources will prevent incidents and minimize trauma from each occurrence.

From Our Members

“Marin Country Day is a Founding Member of Learning Courage because keeping students safe is one of our greatest concerns. We recognize the importance of knowing the most current thinking for reducing and responding to incidents of sexual misconduct in schools. That’s exactly what Learning Courage gives us."
Katherine Dinh, Head of School, Marin Country Day School
“Learning Courage is exactly what school leaders need so they can plan with confidence and respond quickly, knowing they are using the best practices."
Anne Owen Armfield, Former Board of Trustees, The Hotchkiss School
“Learning Courage fills a crucial hole in the response to Sexual Misconduct that has been an enormous obstacle: an accurate, compassionate and LONG term, BIG picture solution to this chronic issue. This organization is one that I feel confident in fully standing behind."
Charis Denison, Founder, Prajna Consulting
"My work with survivors of sexual misconduct asked more of me than anything I'd previously done or imagined. It was also a privilege to be afforded the responsibility to do it as well as possible. I only wish that I had met the team at Learning Courage before taking on the work; their wisdom, compassion, and commitment to supporting school leaders in keeping students safe will serve generations of individuals and school communities to come."
Mike Hanas, Former Head of School, San Francisco Friends School