Ensuring parental notification of child abuse
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Session Daily | Public Information Services in State Legislature
Lora and Shawn Herman’s lives changed in May 2006 — but they wouldn’t realize it for months.
Their son, Kyle, then a nonverbal 6 year old with Down syndrome, had started kindergarten the previous fall.
His behavior problems at home and at school were not resolved, although the Hermans sought medical and therapeutic help and worked with school staff.
Not until April 2007 did Kyle’s parents learn his teacher had been put on leave for suspected maltreatment of their son. Because the case was in arbitration, the school could not give details.
In May 2008, the Hermans finally got a redacted copy of the arbitration report from the Education Department: Kyle had been hit, yelled at, taunted, threatened with being tied up and restrained with a beanbag chair.
Sponsored by Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL-St. Paul), HF3157 would require the education commissioner to report a maltreatment investigation or assessment of an allegation to a parent or legal guardian of a child within 10 days.
Approved by the House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Committee, it next goes to the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee. It has no Senate companion.
by Kris Berggren |Session Daily
