Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Term:
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
6.409
05/03/21
Reporting Child Abuse
Rescinds:
Issued:
6.409
10/05/20
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General
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The Director of Schools shall:
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1. Designate one employee as the Child Abuse Coordinator (the Coordinator) and an additional
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employee to serve as the Alternate Child Abuse Coordinator (the Alternate) for each school;
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2. Require that the Coordinator and the Alternate receive appropriate training;
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3. Supply the Coordinator with all necessary resources;
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4. Ensure that all employees working directly with students annually complete the child abuse
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training program required by state law. 2
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The Coordinator shall assist any employee with appropriately reporting and responding to instances of
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child abuse or child sexual abuse.
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REPORTING
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All personnel shall be alert for any evidence of child abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. 3 If personnel
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know or have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect, a report shall be filed
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immediately with the Coordinator, the Department of Children's Services (DCS), and law
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enforcement. 4 When alleged abuse involves someone employed by, previously employed by, or
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otherwise affiliated with the school, the report may be made directly to the DCS and law enforcement
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prior to notifying the Coordinator. 5
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The report shall include, to the extent known by the reporter: 5
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1. The name, address, telephone number, and age of the child;
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2. The name, telephone number, and address of the parents or persons having custody of the child;
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3. The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect; and
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4. Any evidence to the cause or any other information that may relate to the cause or extent of the
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abuse or neglect.
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The Director of Schools/designee shall develop reporting procedures, including sample indicators of
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abuse and neglect, and shall disseminate the procedures to all school personnel.
Version Date: June 22, 2022
Reporting Child Abuse
6.409
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CONFIDENTIALITY
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District employees shall keep all information regarding any child abuse confidential in accordance
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with state law.
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INVESTIGATIONS
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School administrators and employees have a duty to cooperate, provide assistance, and information in
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child abuse investigations⁶ including permitting DCS teams to conduct interviews while the child is at
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school. The principal may control the time, place, and circumstances of the interview but may not
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insist that a school employee be present even if the suspected abuser is a school employee or another
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student. The principal is not in violation of any laws by failing to inform parent(s)/guardian(s) that the
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child is to be interviewed even if the suspected abuser is not a member of the child's household. 7
Legal References
Cross References
1. Public Acts of 2020, Chapter No. 708
Recommendations and File Transfers 5.203
2.
TCA 37-1-408
Staff-Student Relations 5.610
3. TCA 37-1-403(a)(1); TCA 37-1-412; TCA 37-1-602;
Interrogations and Searches 6.303
TCA 37-1-605(a)(4)
Student Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-
4. TCA 37-1-403(a)(2); Public Acts of 2020, Chapter
bullying, and Intimidation 6.304
No. 708
Title IX & Sexual Harassment 6.3041
5.
TCA 37-1-403(b)
Promoting Student Welfare 6.400
6.
TCA 37-1-611(b)
7. Tenn. Op. Atty. Gen. No. 87-101 (June 9, 1987)
Page 2 of 2

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: Reporting Child Abuse | Descriptor Code: 6.409 | Issued Date: 05/03/21 |
|  |  | Rescinds: 6.409 | Issued: 10/05/20 |