January 22, 2025
Contact: press@justice4survivors.com, (845) 521-4945
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF REGENTS MUST APPROVE CRITICAL REFORMS TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE
NEW YORK, NY – The Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation – an independent alliance of survivors of child sex abuse, their representatives, and advocates seeking full restitution for survivors of child sex abuse – today called on the New York State Board of Regents to approve and implement proposed reforms that would fast-track teaching-license suspensions for educators accused of sexual misconduct.
“Every day that we fail to strengthen laws that protect children from sexual abuse puts another child in danger,” said David Catalfamo, Executive Director of the CJCC. “We urge the Board of Regents to approve these changes immediately and commit to the fastest possible implementation to ensure safer classrooms for students. Our children cannot afford to wait any longer.”
The proposed regulations, scheduled for a vote at the Board’s May meeting, aim to expedite the temporary removal of educators accused of serious misconduct. Under the current system, it takes an average of three years for the state to suspend teaching licenses, leaving students at risk. However, CJCC warns that the powerful teachers union may attempt to derail these vital changes.
“We’ve seen this pattern before,” Catalfamo continued. “State regulators at the Department of Financial Services have buckled under pressure from major insurers like Chubb, abandoning survivors. Now we face a critical question: Will the Board of Regents similarly cave to teachers union pressure, or will they stand firm in protecting our children?”
Research consistently shows that cases of child sexual abuse are severely underreported, and many survivors wait years, if not decades, to come forward. The proposed changes include tighter timelines for disciplinary hearings and appeals, ensuring faster accountability while preserving due process for accused educators.
The scope of abuse is staggering – and likely understated. “Long Island districts alone have paid $167 million to settle 117 lawsuits from former students,” said Stephen Jimenez, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and longtime advocate, author, and journalist. “But we know these cases represent only a fraction of actual abuse. Most survivors take years, even decades, to come forward – if they ever do. No one—not teachers, schools, districts, or insurers—should be able to shirk their responsibility to keep children safe.”
The CJCC is prepared to support the implementation of these critical reforms, including offering expert testimony, case histories, and recommendations to streamline procedures while maintaining due process protections.
“Every child deserves a safe learning environment, and by fast-tracking suspension procedures, we can ensure students are protected,” concluded James R. Marsh, Founder of Marsh Law Firm. “This reform is not just necessary; it is a moral imperative to ensure the safety and well-being of children in our schools.”
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The Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation (“CJCC”) is an independent alliance of survivors of child sex abuse, their representatives, and advocates seeking full restitution for survivors of child sex abuse. Among members of the coalition are author and journalist Stephen Jimenez, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and longtime advocate who helped pass the Child Victims Act (CVA), and attorneys James Marsh, Founding Partner at Marsh Law Firm and Hillary Nappi, Partner at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie, who represent thousands of sexual abuse survivors in litigation against public and private entities.