Sexual contact with a student, even an adult student, is a ______.

• A. Misdemeanor
• B. Civil offense
• C. Felony
• D. Administrative offense

Answer: (C)

Sexual contact between a school employee and a student is a criminal matter because it involves abusing a position of authority and harming a student. The power imbalance makes this conduct very serious, so it is typically charged as a felony rather than a lesser offense. A misdemeanor is a less serious crime, an administrative offense would be handled by the school’s internal policies, and a civil offense refers to lawsuits for damages rather than criminal charges. The seriousness and criminal nature of the abuse of trust is why it’s classified as a felony.