Boundary Training: Promoting Healthy Adult-Student Relationships

Healthy relationships between school staff and students help students learn and grow in an emotionally safe environment.

Boundary training, which has become increasingly popular and public and independent K-12 schools, encourages staff to understand their roles and appropriate and inappropriate behavior with students. Clear behavioral standards for interacting with minors can reduce opportunities for misconduct and address inappropriate behavior early. Consider implementing boundary training for all adult employees and volunteers who have frequent contact with students.

This report provides recommendations for what to include in boundary training for your staff.

• Boundary training seeks to promote healthy relationships and prevent sexual and other types of misconduct, including bullying, hazing, harassment, conflicts of interest, and financial impropriety.
• Certain actions might cross boundaries even if they don’t violate school rules or laws and are intended for the student’s benefit.
• Alert staff that if they cross a boundary, they must examine their motive and discontinue or correct the behavior.