Most states prosecute educators (teachers) for improper sexual contact with students under the state’s statutory rape laws—which are premised on the student being under the age of consent recognized by law, even if the student was a willing participant.

But some states have enacted specific statutes making it a crime—often a felony—for an educator to have sexual contact with a student—even if the student has reached the age of consent (17 years of age, for example).

Laws vary from state to state, and laws governing sexual contact between educators and students are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Idaho, sexual contact between educators and students is governed by specific statutes that make it a crime for an educator to engage in sexual conduct with a student, regardless of the student's age of consent. Idaho Code § 18-918 addresses 'Sexual battery of a minor child sixteen or seventeen years of age — Penalty.' Under this statute, it is a felony for any person in a position of trust, such as a teacher or coach, to engage in sexual conduct with a minor who is sixteen or seventeen years old. This law applies even if the student has reached the age of consent, which is 18 in Idaho. The statute is designed to protect students from sexual exploitation by individuals who hold positions of authority or trust within educational institutions. Violations of this law can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and registration as a sex offender.