NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee school district has made several changes to its child abuse and neglect reporting policy, including barring educators from conducting their own investigations.
The Tennessean reports the Metro Nashville Public Schools' policy was updated Aug. 25. District Public Information Officer Michelle Michaud says the change comes after an interview with the newspaper brought concerns that teachers were provided conflicting information about the reporting process to officials' attention.
Tony Majors is executive officer of student services for the public schools. Majors says some principals misinterpreted the way the policy was written, telling educators to inform school administrators of suspected abuse before reporting it to the Department of Children's Services or police, as required by Tennessee law.
The new policy also prohibits educators from questioning students after reporting an issue.