TEA requiring public school personnel to complete abuse-recognition training
HISD teachers and staff will receive new state-mandated training this year to better equip them with the tools needed to recognize and report child sexual abuse or other maltreatment of children. This new training complements and strengthens the training efforts that HISD already had in place on this important topic.
The Texas Education Agency is requiring all school employees complete a TEA-approved course on the recognition and prevention of sexual abuse and all other maltreatment of children.
All elementary school bus drivers, as well as all elementary school teachers and principals, must complete this training by Sept. 30. Training must be provided by Dec. 31 for all remaining teachers, campus principals, and bus drivers; and by May 31, 2015, for all remaining school staff.
“We support the state’s emphasis on ensuring all school staff are well prepared to recognize the signs of abuse and neglect, and to know how to respond appropriately” said Chief Human Resources Officer Andrew Houlihan. “HISD has long offered training in this area, but this new mandate helps further elevate the important role we can play in early detection and reporting of child abuse.”
State law already requires every HISD employee to immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect. Failure to report is not only a violation of district policy and subject to disciplinary action, but also a Class A Misdemeanor.
Statistics show that school personnel play a key role in child abuse reporting. School officials identify 52 percent of all cases classified as causing harm to the child — more than any other profession or organization, including Child Protective Services and the police.
In the coming weeks, employees will learn more about the new mandate. In particular, the district will be working with campus leadership to offer the appropriate state-approved classes and to ensure all employees take the course.
The new mandate also requires that campuses display posters with information that includes the hotline number for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, instruction to call 911 and directions to www.txabusehotline.org
These posters will be delivered this week to all schools and should be mounted at student eye-level, in at least one high-traffic area, in both English and Spanish.
“We need the help of every school employee to protect children from abuse and neglect,” Houlihan said.
