8.8 - Mandatory Reporting to Child Protective Services

Mandatory Reporting to Child Protective Services

School personnel are mandated reporters and are therefore required to file a report with Child Protective Services (CPS) if they have knowledge of or observe a child whom the reporter knows, or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. The report must be made immediately or as soon as is practically possible by telephone, and the reporter must prepare and fax or electronically transmit a written report of the incident within 36 hours of receiving the information about the incident. CPS Hotline: (415) 558-2650 or (800) 856-5553

Child abuse and neglect includes, (1) physical injury inflicted upon a child by other than accidental means; (2) sexual abuse or assault; (3) neglect (negligent treatment maltreatment of a child by the person responsible for their welfare indicating harm or threatened harm to the child's health or welfare); (4) the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child; and (5) unlawful corporal punishment or injury. 

Child abuse or neglect does not include a conflict between minors; an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer; or reasonable and necessary force used by a school employee to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to another person or damage to property, for purposes of self-defense, or to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of the pupil.