JLF

File:  JLF (pdf)
Adopted:  April 13, 1989
Revised: December 11, 1997, February 26, 1998, October 25, 2011

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Associated Regulation: JLF-R

REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT

It is the policy of the Board of Education that this school district comply with the Child Protection Act.

To that end, any school official or employee who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect or who has observed the child being subjected to circumstances or conditions which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, as defined by statute, shall immediately upon receiving such information report or cause a report to be made to the appropriate county social service agency or local law enforcement agency. Failure to report promptly may result in civil and/or criminal liability. A person who reports child abuse or neglect in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability.

Reports of child abuse or neglect, the name and address of the child, family or informant or any other identifying information in the report shall be confidential and shall not be public information.

The Board shall provide periodic inservice programs for all employees in order to provide them with information about the Child Protection Act and to assist them in recognizing and reporting instances of child abuse.

School employees and officials shall not contact the child's family or any other persons to determine the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect. It is not the responsibility of the school official or employee to prove that the child has been abused or neglected.

The Superintendent shall implement such procedures as are necessary to accomplish the intent of this policy.

LEGAL REFS.:
C.R.S. § 19-1-103(1) (definition of child abuse or neglect)
C.R.S. § 19-3-102 & 103 (definition of neglected or dependent child)
C.R.S. § 19-3-304 (persons required to report abuse)
C.R.S. § 19-3-307 (reporting procedures)
C.R.S. § 19-3-309 (immunity from liability for persons reporting)
C.R.S. § 22-32-109(1)(z) (providing in-service for teachers)

End of File: JLF