Board Policy

BP 5141.4

Students

Child Abuse Reporting Procedures

The Board of Education recognizes that the district has a responsibility to facilitate the prompt reporting of incidents of child abuse and neglect. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians have access to procedures whereby they can report suspected child abuse at a school site to appropriate child protective agencies.

(cf. 1312.1 - Complaints Concerning District Employees)

(cf. 5141.41 - Child Abuse Prevention)

The Superintendent or designee shall establish regulations for use by employees in identifying and reporting child abuse.

District employees shall report known or suspected incidences of child abuse in accordance with district regulations and state law. Employees shall fully cooperate with the child protective agencies responsible for reporting, investigating and prosecuting cases of child abuse.

(cf. 4112.9/4212.9/4312.9 - Employee Notifications)

The Superintendent or designee shall provide training in child abuse identification and reporting for all certificated personnel.

The Superintendent or designee shall also provide training in the duties of child abuse identification and reporting to instructional and teacher aides, teacher assistants and other classified employees. (Penal Code 11165.7)

As part of their training in child abuse identification and reporting, employees shall receive written notice of state child abuse reporting requirements and employees' confidentiality rights. (Penal Code 11165.7)

Employees who work with dependent adults shall be notified of legal responsibilities and reporting procedures pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code 15630-15637.

In order to reduce or eliminate unfounded child abuse accusations directed at school employees, child abuse inservice training shall include guidance in disciplining students and maintaining ethical relationships with them.

(cf. 3514 - Environmental Safety)

(cf. 5142 - Safety)

(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

33308.1 Guidelines on procedure for filing child abuse complaints

44690-44691 Staff development in the detection of child abuse and neglect

48906 Notification when student released to peace officer

PENAL CODE

273a Willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment of child; endangering life or health

11164-11174.3 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, especially:

11165-11165.15 Definitions relating to child abuse

11166-11170 Reporting known or suspected cases of child abuse

11172 Immunity from liability

11174.3 Interviewing victim at school

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

600-601.2 Referral to school attendance review board; minors habitually disobedient or truant

15630-15637 Dependent adult abuse reporting

STATUTES OTHER THAN CODE

Chapter 1102, Statutes of 1991, Section 6

Management Resources:

CDE LEGAL ADVISORIES

0514.93 Guidelines for parents to report suspected child abuse by school district employees or other persons against a pupil at school site

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: March 8, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California