Abuse
Abuse
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a central place to report child abuse and neglect, or abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home.
If you suspect abuse or neglect of any kind, call the Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide, or report with the secure DFPS website and get a response within 24 hours.
Child Abuse
As mandated reporters, educators and other school staff must remain informed on the topic of child abuse.
Child Abuse Reporting
Texas law says anyone who thinks a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to DFPS.
DFPS Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation pens external link in new window)
A Texas School Employee’s Guide to Reporting Suspected Abuse & Neglect
A new training course on recognizing and reporting child abuse or neglect is now live on the DFPS training site. It's designed for Texas professionals, including educators, medical professionals, and childcare providers. It provides valuable information that will assist them in deciding whether to make a report to the Texas Abuse Hotline. Registration: Follow the link to the course, enter your name and e-mail address, and begin the course. A certificate is provided upon completion.
Dating Violence
Teachers, coaches, school personnel, youth leaders, and other youth-serving professionals play an important role in preventing teen dating violence. Everyone deserves healthy relationships.
Texas Education Code 37.0831 on Dating Violence Policies:
(a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252.
(b) A dating violence policy must:
(1) include a definition of dating violence that includes the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another person in a dating relationship, as defined by Section 71.0021, Family Code; and
(2) address safety planning, enforcement of protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected students, and awareness education for students and parents.
School Board Training
What does state mandate say about school board training?
Continuing Education requirements TEC 11.159 (c)
Staff Training
What does state mandate say about training staff about sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children?
New employee contents TEC 38.0041 (c-f)dow)
The TEA Gateway Module is a training resource
Student Training
What does state mandate say about training students?
Superintendent Training
What does state mandate say about superintendent training?