LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Office of the Superintedent

 

STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND DISTRICT POLICY CONCERNING CHILD ABUSE REPORTING

Section 11166 of California Penal Code applies to certificated employees and all employees of child care centers. This law also applies to instructional aides, teacher's aides, teacher's assistants, and classified employees who have been trained in the duties imposed by this law. These employees are considered to be mandated reporters. Any one of these specified employees who knows or reasonable suspects that a child has been a victim of a child abuse incident must

  1. REPORT THE INCIDENT TO A CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCY (POLICE - NOT SCHOOL POLICE* OR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, COUNTY PROTATION DEPARTMENT, OR A COUNTY WELFARE DEPARTMENT) IMMEDIATELY BY TELEPHONE.

    OR

  2. SEND A WRITTEN REPORT OF THE INCIDENT TO THE SAME AGENCY WITYHIN 36 HOURS.

Although the Penal Code obligation to report applies to the aforementioned employees only, IT IS THE POLICY OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ALL EMPLOYEES SHALL COMPLY WITH THE LAW'S REPORTING PROCEDURES WHENEVER THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF OR OBSERVE A CHILD IN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT WHOM THEY KNOW OR REASONABLY SUSPECT TO HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF CHILD ABUSE. Any employee who within the course of his or her employment makes a report consistent with this policy will be defended by the district against any actions or claims that may be made as a result of the report. The district will also pay all expenses associated with such defense. Any failure to comply with this policy may subject an employee to school district disciplinary action and/or possible personal, professional, civil or criminal liability.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF CHILD ABUSE REPORTS

This is to remind staff of the statutory requirements regarding the confidentiality of the contents of the child abuse report (SS 8572, Suspected Child Abuse Report) and the identity of any individual (including mandated reporters) making a report of suspected child abuse.

Penal Code Sections 11167(d) and 11167.5 require taht the identity of all persons who report child abuse and child abuse report remain confidential. The above noted information may only be disclosed to certain persons and/or agencies, as specified in CSWH # Court 91-01, Confidentiality, Sections 3, A; and B.

LAUSD's Child Abuse Prevention Office is collaborating with the Department of Children and Family Services' Bureau of Operations on policy matters in an effort to strengthen our protection of district children who are suspected of being child abuse victims.