In April 2014 we conducted a survey to learn how child abuse and neglect is recognized, reported, and prevented in schools. More information at http://www.schoolimprovement.com/voices-of-education/child-abuse-and-neglect/

1. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
S C H O O L I M P R O V E M E N T N E T W O R K
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
PREVENTION SURVEY
April 2014

2. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
• Survey sent to educators in April 2014
• 951 educators responded
– 57% (519) teachers
– 18% (166) administrators
– Responders include educators working in:
• Rural, urban, and suburban schools
• Elementary, middle, and high schools
Methodology

3. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Demographics
Professional Position
Administrator
Teacher
Other
18%
57%
25%
School Environment
Urban
Rural
Suburban
40%
37%
23%
School Type
Pre-K
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
3%
53%
17%
27%
Percent Classified
as Title I
0-10%
11-20%
21-30%
31-40%
41-50%
51-60%
61-70%
71-80%
81-90%
91-100%
8%
6%
6%
8%
8%
7%
10%
12%
13%
22%

4. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Key Findings
• 19% of educators report seeing evidence of child abuse and neglect always or often.
• Educators say neglect is the most common type of abuse seen in schools or districts
(61%).
• Collectively, educators estimate only 47% of cases are reported. However,
administrators estimate that more cases are reported than teachers estimate.
• Uncertainty of having enough evidence prevents educators from reporting signs of
abuse (26%).
• Most training on recognizing and preventing child abuse and neglect is done by a school
or district administrator (45%).

5. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Survey Results

6. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
19% of educators report seeing evidence of child abuse and neglect
always or often.
“HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE EVIDENCES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN STUDENTS IN YOUR
SCHOOL OR DISTRICT?”
Always
2%
Often
17%
Sometimes
45%
Rarely
30%
Never
6%
0%
100%
By % Title I
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Always
0%
100%
By Type
0%
100%
By Locale

7. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
19% of educators report seeing evidence of child abuse and neglect
always or often.
“HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE EVIDENCES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN STUDENTS IN YOUR
SCHOOL OR DISTRICT?”
Always
2%
Often
17%
Sometimes
45%
Rarely
30%
Never
6%
Pre-K Elementary Middle Secondary Rural Suburban Urban
Always 0% 3% 1% 1% 2% 1% 3%
Often 15% 20% 12% 15% 15% 12% 22%
Sometimes 41% 49% 44% 38% 48% 44% 41%
Rarely 41% 25% 38% 36% 32% 33% 28%
Never 4% 3% 5% 9% 3% 9% 6%
0-10% 11-20% 21-30% 31-40% 41-50% 51-60% 61-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100%
Always 0% 0% 4% 0% 0% 2% 3% 5% 4% 3%
Often 1% 4% 14% 13% 17% 7% 11% 20% 24% 26%
Sometimes 33% 48% 41% 54% 44% 55% 49% 49% 44% 43%
Rarely 48% 38% 41% 26% 33% 36% 30% 22% 26% 24%
Never 18% 10% 0% 6% 6% 0% 6% 5% 1% 3%

8. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Educators say neglect is the most common type of abuse
seen in schools or districts (61%).
36%
20%
49%
61%
64%
80%
51%
39%
0% 100%
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Psychological Abuse
Neglect
"How common are the following types of abuse in your school or district?”*
Common
Uncommon
*Responses were aggregated into overall positive and negative categories from a sliding scale.

9. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Collectively, educators estimate only 47% of cases are reported.
However, administrators estimate that more cases are reported than
teachers estimate.
“WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THESE CASES WOULD YOU ESTIMATE ARE REPORTED?”
41%
45%
52%
43%
47%
0% 100%
Secondary
Middle
Elementary
Pre-K
Overall
48%
50%
46%
42%
59%
0% 100%
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Teachers
Administrators

10. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Uncertainty of having enough evidence prevents educators
from reporting signs of abuse (26%).
26%
18% 17%
12%
11%
8%
6%
3%
0%
30%
Uncertainty of
having enough
evidence
Fear it will make
the situation
worse
Possibility of it
not being a case
of abuse
Fear it will still
go unresolved
Previous
negative
experiences
reporting
possible abuse
or neglect
Fear of
retaliation from
the parents
Not knowing the
process of
reporting abuse
Other
"What do you think prevents cases from being reported?"

11. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Most training on recognizing and preventing child abuse and
neglect is done by a school or district administrator (45%).
46%
33%
29% 28%
15%
8%
4%
0%
50%
Training Led by a
School or District
Administrator
Reading Material Online PD Training Led by a
Third-Party Group
Conferences None Other
"What types of training have been provided in your school or district to help
recognize and prevent child abuse and neglect?" (check all that apply)

12. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
Trainings are provided about once a year (70%).
“HOW OFTEN ARE THE TRAININGS PROVIDED?”
None
12%
Once a year
70%
Twice a year
12%
Once a
quarter
3%
Once a month
2%
Weekly
1%
Pre-K Elementary Middle Secondary
None 4% 14% 14% 12%
Once a year 79% 71% 67% 66%
Twice a year 14% 11% 11% 16%
Once a quarter 4% 2% 5% 3%
Once a month 0% 2% 1% 2%
Weekly 0% 0% 1% 1%
0%
100%
Weekly
Once a month
Once a quarter
Twice a year
Once a year
None

13. T i t l e o f P r e s e n t a t i o n Month 2014
To see results from other surveys,
visit http://www.schoolimprovement.com/voices-of-education/