Abuse by School Employees: A Survey for Pennsylvania Families and Advocates |
Abuse by School Employees: A Survey for Pennsylvania Families and Advocates
Senator Fontana, together with 33 co-sponsors, has introduced Senate Bill 1243 which would ensure greater protections for children who are the victims of abuse by school employees in Pennsylvania.
Current PA law provides that if there is a case of suspected child abuse in which the alleged perpetrator is a school employee, there is no requirement to report that abuse unless it rises to the level of a “serious bodily injury” which is equivalent to the loss of a limb or an organ that stops functioning, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation. ChildLine does not have responsibility for referral or initial investigation of those cases; rather it is local law enforcement that investigates and the process is entirely different from that for any other caretaker who is suspected of child abuse. The bill would delete the specific subsection that applies only to school employees and instead, include school employees in the general provisions of the Child Protective Services Law to ensure that all suspected cases of child abuse by persons responsbile for a child's welfare are treated the same.
If passed, this legislation would ensure Child Protective Services investigations of reported abuse of students, defined to include ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT THAT RESULTS IN NON-ACCIDENTAL SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES THAT CAUSE A CHILD SEVERE PAIN OR SIGNIFICANTLY INTERFERE WITH HIS OR HER ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH AGE-APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL AND SOCIAL TASKS.
The Disability Rights Network and The Arc of PA strongly support Senate Bill 1243 and are seeking family and advocate input that would help move this legislation forward. If your child or a child for whom you've advocated has been the victim of abuse by a school employee, please take a few moments to answer the questions in this survey. We are very appreciative of your willingness to share your and your child’s experience.
Current PA law provides that if there is a case of suspected child abuse in which the alleged perpetrator is a school employee, there is no requirement to report that abuse unless it rises to the level of a “serious bodily injury” which is equivalent to the loss of a limb or an organ that stops functioning, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation. ChildLine does not have responsibility for referral or initial investigation of those cases; rather it is local law enforcement that investigates and the process is entirely different from that for any other caretaker who is suspected of child abuse. The bill would delete the specific subsection that applies only to school employees and instead, include school employees in the general provisions of the Child Protective Services Law to ensure that all suspected cases of child abuse by persons responsbile for a child's welfare are treated the same.
If passed, this legislation would ensure Child Protective Services investigations of reported abuse of students, defined to include ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT THAT RESULTS IN NON-ACCIDENTAL SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES THAT CAUSE A CHILD SEVERE PAIN OR SIGNIFICANTLY INTERFERE WITH HIS OR HER ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH AGE-APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL AND SOCIAL TASKS.
The Disability Rights Network and The Arc of PA strongly support Senate Bill 1243 and are seeking family and advocate input that would help move this legislation forward. If your child or a child for whom you've advocated has been the victim of abuse by a school employee, please take a few moments to answer the questions in this survey. We are very appreciative of your willingness to share your and your child’s experience.