Child Abuse Reporting Reminders

A recent Texas Education Agency (TEA) To the Administrator Addressed Correspondence provides information regarding reporting requirements and training related to the maltreatment of children.

Texas Family Code § 261.101 requires school employees to report suspected child abuse, neglect, or trafficking within 48 hours. Reports can be made to any local or state law enforcement agency, the Department of Family and Protective Services, or the state agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers the facility at which the alleged abuse or neglect occurred. This responsibility cannot be delegated.

Additionally, school systems are mandated to establish and enforce policies related to sexual abuse, trafficking, and other forms of child maltreatment. Requirements include the following:

• Each campus must display posters that meet the requirements of 19 TAC § 61.1051(e) and (f) in at least one high-traffic area in both English and Spanish.
• Each school must post No Human Trafficking warning signs in places likely to be viewed by all persons entering the premises.
• School entities must ensure certain individuals are fingerprinted for a national criminal history records review and others undergo a name-based criminal history records review. Each district or charter school must certify compliance annually.
• Texas school systems must discharge or refuse to hire any individual listed on the Do Not Hire Registry.

TEA provides information and training requirements for school board members, superintendents, all new school employees, and all other staff not previously trained on prevention and recognition of the maltreatment of children. Links and additional resources are available on the TEA To the Administrator Addressed Correspondence webpage.