Legal Update for Centennial’s Staff Karen Haase Harding & Shultz (402) 434-3000 khaase@hslegalfirm.com H & S School Law @KarenHaase
The Penn State Scandal
The Penn State Scandal • In Nebraska, every adult IS a mandatory reporter.
Child Abuse
What is Child Abuse? 28-710 Knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causing a child to be: (a) Placed in a situation that endangers his or her life or physical or mental health; (b) Cruelly confined or cruelly punished; (c) Deprived of necessary food, clothing, shelter, or care; (d) Left unattended in a motor vehicle if such minor child is six years of age or younger (e) Placed in a situation to be sexually exploited by allowing, encouraging, or forcing such minor child to solicit for or engage in prostitution, debauchery, public indecency, or obscene or pornographic photography, films, or depictions; or (f) Sexually abused.
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-711 (1) When any . . . school employee . . . any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect . . . he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-711 (1) When any . . . school employee . . . any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect . . . he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-711 (1) When any . . . school employee . . . any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect . . . he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-711 (1) When any . . . school employee . . . any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect . . . he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number
Standard for police arrest without a warrant Has knowledge, based on information which is reasonably trustworthy under the circumstances, which justifies the person’s prudent belief that abuse and neglect has or is likely to occur
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-711 (1) When any . . . school employee . . . any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect . . . he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-711 (1) When any . . . school employee . . . any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect . . . he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number
Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-293 (1) The principal of a school or the principal's designee shall notify as soon as possible the appropriate law enforcement authorities . . . of any act of the student described in section 79267 which the principal or designee knows or suspects is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code.
Keep in Mind: Only 1/3 of abuse gets reported Reasonable ≠ true Adult abusers groom adults as well as kids
Cases Prosecuting Educators
Commonwealth v. Allen (Ky. 1998)
Teachers suspected fellow teacher Told principal, who did not report Teacher abused third student, assistant principal reported Teacher charged with failure to report Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed conviction
Commonwealth v. Allen (Ky. 1998)
What about multiple reports? “In this world where imperfections abound, it is not illogical or inefficient for the legislature to require every individual entrusted to the care and supervision of children to be required to report crimes against those children”
Pesce v. J. Sterling Morton High Sch. (7th Cir. 1987)
School Psych contacted by student Referred to private therapist Decided to maintain student’s confidentiality until student agreed to allow report Superintendent suspended for 5 days and demoted
Pesce v. J. Sterling Morton High Sch. (7th Cir. 1987)
 Psych sued claiming violations of 1st, 4th, and 14th Amendments  Illinois statute: Any . . . school personnel . having reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused or a neglected child shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the Department [of Children and Family Services].
Melleady v. Blake (Dist. N.J. 2011)
 Parents sued after kids removed from their home; Defendants claimed immunity  Ct: reporters do not have absolute immunity  Ct: Test is whether a reasonable person would have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused
Immunity From Liability – 28-716 Any person participating in an investigation or the making of a report of child abuse or neglect required by law or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting therefrom shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, except for maliciously false statements. •
Criminal Penalties In addition to any ethical and social obligations and penalties, the failure to report child abuse or neglect as required by law subjects you to up to 3 months in jail, a $500 fine, or both. •
Report from HHS The person in charge of a school making a legally mandated report of child abuse or neglect shall receive a summary of the findings of and actions taken by the department in response to the report upon request. The amount of detail such summary contains shall depend on the source of the report of child abuse or neglect and shall be established by regulations of the department.
Our Recommendations Reporting peer abuse • If sex assault involved: report • If physical assault on campus: investigate; document; use discretion • If physical assault off campus: document; use discretion Call before you conduct your investigation Failure to report not in rule 27
“That’s a SpEd Issue”
ADA and Section 504 • Rehabilitation Act doesn’t define “major life activity” • Courts have used ADA; congress amended to include - Concentrating - Reading - Learning
504/Health Plans Tyler (Tx) Indep. Sch. Dist., (OCR 2010) • health care plan for diabetic students • Required to evaluate under 504 Dracut (Ma) Pub. Sch., (OCR 2010) • health care plan for peanut allergy • Required to evaluate under 504
504/Health Plans Opelika city (AL) Sch. Dist., (OCR 2010) • health care plan for diabetic students • Required to evaluate under 504 Jan. 19 Guidance Document
Health Plan Action Steps List of all kids with health plan List of all kids on medication and what meds are List of all kids identified by parent as having health condition Train school nurse!
10 Things NOT to Say in an IEP Meeting
All of our students must...
Refusal to Individualize Victoria Ind. Sch. Dist., (Tex. 2010) • Student with fetal alcohol syndrome • Gen Ed Teacher E-mailed Parent • Parent privately placed
Unified Sch. Dist. No. 259 (Ks. 1999) • Student with dyslexia • Attended magnet school • Teacher told parent she had done every thing she could for student
Refusal to Individualize Montgomery Co. Bd of Ed., (Ala 2005) • Student suspended for fighting • Homebound services for 45 days: ‾ 3 hours per week ‾ AlphaSmart 3000 ‾ Social skills training
Instead Say Things Like: We believe this will be successful for your child We have had success with this approach with similar children This approach meets your child’s individual needs
That will cost a ton. Our school just can’t afford it.
Cost doesn’t matter Santa Clara (CA) Unif. Sch. Dist, (OCR 2009) • "back-to-basics" school - lottery • Only 3% sped (15% elsewhere) • No resource staff • OCR: discrimination against disabled students
Cost doesn’t matter Modoc County (CA) Office of Educ. (OCR 1996) • Parents wanted adaptive PE • School could find cert. • Private consultant too expensive • Waiver for teacher provisionally cert • $40,000.00 per year vs. $1200.00
Instead Say Things Like: We believe you child can make academic progress without ____ We believe the program we’ve designed for your child will meet your child’s individual need Can you provide us with more information about this?
I have 19 other students in my classroom to worry about too.
MUST follow IEP IEP is staff’s “safe harbor” District liable for failure to follow: • Due Process • OCR Complaint • Rule 51 Complaint
Personal Liability • Doe v. Withers, (WV. 1993) • PPC claim
Instead Say Things Like: I will make sure to implement the team’s modifications I am committed to Johnny’s success Working together we can find strategies that will be successful
Legal Update for Centennial Staff Karen Haase Harding & Shultz (402) 434-3000 khaase@hslegalfirm.com H & S School Law @KarenHaase