BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Kern High School District Board of Trustees is set to consider a policy revision on Monday that would allow curriculum teaching students how to identify and respond to abuse, according to the board agenda.
The first reading of the proposed revision to the board policy titled “Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting” is expected to be presented to the trustees Nov. 3.
A proposed addition to the policy says the district’s instructional program can provide “age-appropriate and culturally sensitive” curriculum for students regarding child abuse prevention, according to the agenda.
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The curriculum would explain the students’ right to live free of abuse and teach skills and techniques for identifying unsafe situations, as well as how to respond to abuse, the agenda said.
The district would also inform students about support resources and teach them how to get help and report abuse.
The policy, which was adopted November of 2009 and last revised September 2021, already has instructions for child abuse prevention and reporting.
The existing prevention methods outlined in the policy include:
Allowing age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention instructions that parents can opt their children out of with a written request
Displaying posters at schools to inform students about which number to call to report abuse or neglect
Including the National Domestic Violence hotline number on student ID cards
Requiring the superintendent to try to incorporate community resources into the district’s child abuse prevention programs, where they can use the resources to teach parents parenting skills and child abuse prevention
The policy also already lists instructions for reporting child abuse and neglect:
Requiring the superintendent to establish procedures for identifying and reporting known and suspected child abuse and neglect
Having the reporting procedures be in the district and/or school’s comprehensive safety plan
Requiring mandated reporters to report all known and suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect
Having the superintendent provide training about the duties and responsibilities of mandated reporters as required by law
The board is slated to hear the proposed revision for the first time during its meeting at 7 p.m. at 5801 Sundale Ave. The board won’t be making a decision at this meeting.
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