Training
Wisconsin law requires all employees of Wisconsin public school districts to report suspected child abuse and neglect, Wis. Stat. sec. 48.981(2)(a)16m. In addition, school boards are to ensure all employees receive training provided by the Department of Public Instruction within six months of initial hiring and at least every five years thereafter, Wis. Stat. sec. 118.07(5). Employees are considered to be anyone who receives an annual statement of wages for tax purposes (W-2 form) from the school district. Some school districts contract with a Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) or other organizations for different kinds of services. In such cases, school districts may wish to consider requiring these contracted personnel to participate in the required training, if they work with students.
School districts may select one of two methods to ensure their employees complete the training requirement:
1. Learning Modules
Have employees complete the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect - Training for All School Employees learning module. At the end of the webcast, participants may choose between two methods to document their viewing: 1) a dated completion certificate, or 2) an email sent to a person of their choice (e.g., building principal, human resources). The Department of Public Instruction does not maintain a record of individual completion of this training. Note: Chrome is the preferred internet browser to view this online training.
- Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect-Training for All School Employees
- Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect-Supplemental Information
2. Local In-Service
Provide a local in-service using the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect-Training for All School Employees PowerPoint presentation. Speaker notes are provided within each PowerPoint slide. The entire PowerPoint must be utilized in order to meet the statutory requirement of completion of DPI training. The Department recommends that anyone using the PowerPoint for a local in-service also view the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect - Supplemental Information learning module as part of the preparation. Local presenters may incorporate any and all of the slides from the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect - Supplemental Information PowerPoint presentation into a local in-service. In addition, local information (e.g., phone number for county child protective services) may be added to the presentation. School districts using this option to meet the training requirement may locally determine how to document employee participation.
- Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect-Training for All School Employees
- Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect-Supplemental Information
Additional Resources
- The School's Role in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
- Reporting Requirements for Sexually Active Adolescents: Suggested Procedures for Educators
- Confidential Services Available to Minors
- Department of Children and Families-Child Protective Services
- Children's Trust Fund
- Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin
- State and Federal Laws Related to the DPI's Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team Programs