STAFF PERSONNEL

Series 400

Policy Title: Child Abuse Reporting

Code No. 406

In compliance with state law and to provide protection to victims of child abuse, the board believes incidents of alleged child abuse should be reported to the proper authorities. All licensed school employees, teachers, coaches and paraeducators and all school employees 18 years of age or older are mandatory reporters as provided by law and are to report alleged incidents of child abuse they become aware of within the scope of their professional duties.

When a mandatory reporter suspects a student is the victim of child abuse, the mandatory reporter will orally or in writing notify the Iowa Department of Human Services.  If the mandatory reporter believes the child is in immediate danger, the local law enforcement agency will also be notified.  Within forty-eight hours of the oral report the mandatory reporter will file a written report with the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Within six months of their initial employment, mandatory reporters will take a two-hour training course involving the identification and reporting of child abuse, or submit evidence they’ve taken the course within the previous three years. Once the training course has been taken, the certificate will remain valid for three years.  Employees who have taken the two-hour training course will take the one-hour follow up training course every three years and prior to the expiration of their certificate.

Date of Adoption/Review/Revision:

July 2007

August 2013

October 2016

June 2017

March 2020

November 2020

August 2022

August 2023