Child Abuse

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119, § 51A, any public or private school teacher, educational administrator, guidance or family counselor, nurse, social worker, or member of certain other professions who in his/her professional capacity shall have reasonable cause to believe that a child under eighteen years of age is suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon him/her which causes harm or substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare including sexual abuse, or from neglect, including malnutrition, shall immediately report such conditions to the Department of Social Services. School employees meet their responsibilities for reporting by informing the school principal (see How to Report below). A written report to DSS must then be filed within 48 hours. The Hopkinton Public Schools affirms its responsibility to provide for the safety and well-being of students. This responsibility extends to fully complying with the Massachusetts Mandatory Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Statute, Chapter 119, Section 51A. It is expected then, that when any staff member in his/her professional capacity, has reasonable cause to believe that a child under the age of eighteen years is suffering from the effects of any form of child abuse and neglect, that the staff member will report his/her concerns to the building principal for consideration of reporting to the Department of Social Services.