Educators have unique role in reporting suspected abuse

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on child abuse presents an opportunity to understand the Court’s view about educator responsibilities as mandatory child abuse reporters.

Educators play a vital role in protecting children from abuse and neglect. Because children spend so much time in school, educators are often the first adults to notice if something seems amiss.

Child abuse and neglect cut across all socioeconomic classes and ethnic and racial groups. They remain a pervasive and persistent threat to our nation’s children. In 2013, an estimated 679,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect. In that same year, 1,520 children died from abuse and neglect — on average, about four children a day — according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.