Episode 79: Empowering K–12 Communities: Ending the Year with ICS’s New Student Bystander Training

Dec 19, 2025

This year has been unlike any other in the compliance world. Across every school district and institution that we support, we have seen the same pattern emerge: expectations rising and responsibilities expanding, and the compliance landscape shifting faster than ever before under this new administration. At ICS, we’ve tried to offer some real clarity and practical pathways forward to help you stay ahead over the course of the year. During this episode, we unpack the newly released Title IX Student Bystander Training. The goal of this training is to equip students with real skills and to help schools build safer communities from the ground up. Joining us to discuss this topic is Betsy Smith, our Chief Innovation Officer, who led the development of this training. She walks us through what the training covers, why it matters, how to implement the training on the ground, and how schools can bring it to life at their district or school. We’re always looking for change in small and big ways, and we are so grateful to be a part of this training. Tune in to hear more. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Looking back at the compliance world in 2025. 
• How ICS has worked to meet the needs that have emerged in the past year. 
• The new community partner benefit that ICS has launched. 
• What the new Title IX Student Bystander Training for K-12 entails. 
• What Chief Innovation Officer Betsy Smith has been focused on this year. 
• Background on our new Title IX Student Bystander Training and why it is specifically for K-12 students.
• Challenges schools are currently facing that warrant the need for such a training. 
• What is most important about this training. 
• Content design and an overview of the training. 
• Why a choice was made to approach this as bystander training.
• The role of the facilitator guide. 
• How the work of Title IX Coordinators makes an impact, even if they can’t see it. 
• What the broader goal of this training is: culture change through intervention.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

ICS on YouTube
Betsy Smith on LinkedIn

ICS Title IX Student Bystander Training

Watch the Replay – World Premiere! ICS K-12 Title IX Student Bystander Training

ICS Lawyer

Higher Ed Community Access

K-12 Community Access

Higher Ed Virtual Certified IX Training

K-12 Virtual Certified Title IX Training

ICS Blog

Courtney Bullard on X 

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