Children grow up learning to prepare for a natural disaster or fire, say no to drugs and avoid strangers. Now students in pre-K through 12th grade will learn about sexual assault, sexual abuse awareness and prevention.

Erin’s Law, signed Jan. 24 by Gov. Pat Quinn, requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum at all grade levels. Previously in Illinois, only secondary schools were required to include sexual assault and abuse awareness education. Erin’s Law expands this requirement to include elementary and middle schools.

Erin Merryn, for whom the law is named, has shared her experience being sexually abused as a child in support of the law’s passage.