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Act 126 - Mandated Reporter

Act 126 - Child Abuse Recognition and Reporter Training

On July 5, 2012, Governor Corbett signed into law, the Act of July 5, 2012, P.L. 1084, No. 126 Cl. 24 Session of 2012, which amended the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate that all school entities (a public school, charter school, cyber charter school, private school, nonpublic school, intermediate unit or area vocational technical school) and independent contractors of school entities provide certain training to all employees, including contracted substitute teachers, who have direct contact with children. Direct contact with children has been defined as “the possibility of care, supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children.” 

All school employees hired on or before 2013 were required to complete the three (3) hours of training no later than December 31, 2017.  All school employees hired 2014 or later must complete the three (3) hours of training within five years.  All newly hired school employees must complete the training within ninety (90) days of hire.  

Failure to comply with this State of Pennsylvania mandated requirement could result in discipline, up to and including dismissal.

To be compliant with Act 126, the training must cover the following topics.

  • Signs of Abuse with Trafficking Updates
  • Laws of Provisions for Child Abuse and Reporting
  • Educator Misconduct Training

 

The District offers employee training through Vector Solutions.

A free training is also available through the University of Pittsburgh and covers the first and second topic listed above.  The link is http://www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu.  First, click on “Registration”.  Then complete the webinar.  You will be able to print or save a certificate at the end of the training.

A free training through PDE SAS covers the third topic listed above.  The link is http://pdc.pdesas.org.  IMPORTANT: Be sure to go through the correct track in SAS.  If you are a substitute teacher, teacher or administrator, you should register for the “Teacher Track” option.  If you are a non-teacher staff such as paraprofessional, office support staff, cafeteria worker, health support staff, maintenance worker, custodial worker, or bus driver, you should register for the “Staff Track” option.  Detailed step-by-step guidance for registering and saving your certificate is provided here.

Act 126 – SAS Teacher Instructions

Act 126 – SAS Staff Instructions

 

Board Policy 806 - Child Abuse

 

Mandated Reporter Procedure

All school employees who come into contact with children are mandated reporters required by law to report when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of a person or of an agency, institution or organization is an abused child. However, any person may report suspected abuse. Mandated reporters must submit their name and contact information when making a report. Other members of the community who report can choose to remain anonymous. To make a report follow these steps:

Reporting Abuse Electronically:

  1. In case of emergency dial 9-1-1 or call the local police and then contact Childline 800-932-0313.
  2. Mandated reporters can make a report electronically to Childline via the Child Welfare Information Solution portal, Portal .
  3. Login using your INDIVIDUAL LOGIN or CREATE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT. After submitting the report, you will receive a confirmation email. Print and keep this confirmation for documentation purposes and according to your records retention policy. The CY47 Child Abuse Report Form is not required if an electronic report is made in lieu of a call to Childline. The electronic report serves as both the oral and written report.
  4. Immediately inform your supervisor or the Superintendent as per district policy. 

Reporting Abuse By Phone:

  1. In case of emergency dial 9-1-1 or call your local police and then contact Childline 800-932-0313.
  2. Call the Childline and Abuse Registry Intake Unit at 800-932-0313 (TDD: 866-872-1677) to inform of the facts and circumstances contributing to a suspicion of child abuse or neglect or of unborn child abuse.
  3. After calling Childline, mandated reporters must file a written report within 48 hours. This may be submitted one of two ways:
    1. Electronically using the Child Welfare Information Solution Portal, Portal . Login using your INDIVUDUAL LOGIN or CREATE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT. After submiting the report, you will receive a confirmation email. Print and keep this confirmation for documentation purposes and according to your records retention policy.
    2. In writing by using the CY47 Child Abuse Report Form. Fax this form to Carbon County Children and Youth at (570) 325-3647 ir via email at carbonc&y@carboncounty.net.
  4. A school employee, independent contractor or volunteer who makes a report of suspected child abuse shall immediately, after making the initial report, notify the building principal or administrator and if the initial report was made electronically, also provide the building principal or administrator with a copy of the report confirmation. The building principal or administrator shall then immediately notify the Superintendent or designee that a child abuse report has been made and if the initial report was made electronically, also provide a copy of the report confirmation, per Board Policy.