Lawsuits in Colorado Schools Lead to Excessive Reporting
An odd phenomenon is taking place in Colorado. According to the Denver Post, child welfare referrals from those working in the school system have increased 55% in recent months. Statewide, reports of child abuse have reportedly increased 61% since 2001.
Sources indicate that researchers are uncertain at this time whether increased reporting among the general public has resulted from actual increases in child abuse or if people are simply more aware of what constitutes child abuse than before.
As for reports from within the school system, the reason is fairly clear: teachers and administrators are evidently frightened of losing their licenses or even facing legal action for failing to report incidents of abuse or neglect.
The Post reports that Nicole Veltze, the principal of a Colorado middle school, has been temporarily reassigned because of an alleged failure to report an incident to police. Apparently, one 13-year-old student accused another of sexual harassment.
While Veltze was evidently investigating the matter herself, her failure to notify police officers led to a legal investigation. An employee of the Denver District Attorney's office has encouraged school workers to take a "report everything" approach, sources indicate. That way, they're less likely to be sued.
But some people have questioned the wisdom of reporting every minor incident that could be construed as abusive. The Post details incidents in which teachers reported one six-year-old telling another she had "a sexy booty," two five-year-olds who kissed on the playground and a tag-on-the-behind that led to three days' suspension.
While these incidents may not have warranted lawyer intervention or negligence lawsuits, their reporting has had some tangible effects.
According to sources, the Denver Department of Human Services and police department have noticed an increase in workload since teachers began following the legal advice of reporting even the smallest incidents.
Apparently, the DHS is developing guidelines to help teachers better know which incidents to report and which ones to ignore. Currently, school-related welfare reports evidently account for 27% of all incidents reported to the DHS. Increases of that magnitude can be difficult on those who have to process them, and can strain resources.
Plus, the Post reports, budget cuts in the Denver area have meant that many social workers have been laid off in recent months, which leaves fewer workers to handle more complaints.
It seems teachers, who could lose certification and licenses as part of disciplinary actions, are taking any measures they can to protect themselves from lawsuits, frivolous or otherwise.