File:  JLF - Reporting Child Abuse /Child Protection

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 subject 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 department of social services 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 teachers in order to provide them with information about the Child Protection Act, to assist them in recognizing and reporting instances of child abuse and to instruct them on how to assist victims and their families.

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 submit such procedures as are necessary to the Board for approval to accomplish the intent of this policy.

Adopted February 12, 1985

Revised August 22, 1995

Revised June 25, 2003

Revised:  May 13, 2014

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 inservice for teachers)

CROSS REF.:  GBEB, Staff Conduct

GBGB, Staff Personal Security and Safety