Child Abuse Prevention And Reporting

The Governing Board is committed to supporting the safety and well-being of district students and desires to facilitate the prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect. The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement strategies for preventing, recognizing, and promptly reporting known or suspected child abuse and neglect. The Superintendent or designee may provide a student who is a victim of abuse with school-based mental health services or other support services and/or may refer the student to resources available within the community as needed. Child Abuse Prevention The district's instructional program may provide age-appropriate and culturally sensitive child abuse prevention curriculum which explains students' right to live free of abuse, includes instruction in the skills and techniques needed to identify unsafe situations and react appropriately and promptly, informs students of available support resources, and teaches students how to obtain help and disclose incidents of abuse. The district's program also may include age-appropriate instruction in sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention. Upon written request of a student's parent/guardian, the student shall be excused from taking such instruction. (Education Code 51900.6) The Superintendent or designee may display posters, in areas on campus where students frequently congregate, notifying students of the appropriate telephone number to call to report child abuse or neglect. (Education Code 33133.5) In addition, student identification cards for students in grades 7-12 shall include the National Domestic Violence Hotline telephone number. (Education Code 215.5) The Superintendent or designee shall, to the extent feasible, seek to incorporate community resources into the district's child abuse prevention programs and may use these resources to provide parents/guardians with instruction in parenting skills and child abuse prevention. Child Abuse Reporting The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for the identification and reporting of known and suspected child abuse and neglect in accordance with law. Procedures for reporting child abuse, as specified in Penal Code 11164-11174.3, shall be included in the district and/or school comprehensive safety plan. (Education Code 32282) District employees who are mandated reporters, as defined by law and administrative regulation, are obligated to report all known or suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect. The Superintendent or designee shall provide training regarding the duties of mandated reporters as required by law and as specified in the accompanying administrative regulation. (Education Code 44691; Penal Code 11165.7)