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PDE Act 126 Professional Development

PDE Act 126 Professional Development. Presented by Safe Schools Office-PDE To PAPSA on April 18, 2013. 2011 Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Annual Child Abuse Report. 1,016 cases of physical injury to children from birth to age 17 were substantiated

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PDE Act 126 Professional Development

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  1. PDE Act 126 Professional Development Presented by Safe Schools Office-PDE To PAPSA on April 18, 2013

  2. 2011Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Annual Child Abuse Report • 1,016 cases of physical injury to children from birth to age 17 were substantiated • 20 cases of mental injury to children from birth to age 17 were substantiated • 2,691 cases of sexual abuse to children from birth to age 17 were substantiated • 150 cases of neglect of children from birth to age 17 were substantiated.

  3. Provisions of the Act • Amended June 6,2012 • In effect January 2,2013 Requirements of the Act: • All school entities must train their employees on how to recognize and report child abuse and sexual misconduct • All school entities must train their employees on how to maintain professional relationships • All school entities must familiarize their employees on their policies and practices related to the above. • All school entities must familiarize their employees with provisions of the Professional Educator Misconduct Act and its reporting requirements

  4. Provisions of Act 126 : Training Training Requirements • Minimum of 3 hours of training/5yrs • Independent providers • Professionals can receive credit toward continuing ed. requirement. • Training providers for Act 48 continuing education credit must be approved by PDE and Dept. of Pubic Welfare • PDE recommendation: initial training be completed by 12/31/13.

  5. Who Must Be Trained • Professional employees of a school entity: • Classroom teachers • Administrators • Nurses • Guidance counselors • Therapists • Noncertified employees of a school entity: • Bus drivers • Custodial staff • Cafeteria staff • Maintenance staff • All employees of an independent contractor or a school entity: • Physical/speech/occupational therapists • Bus drivers • Summer workers- if sustained contact with students

  6. How is a school entity defined under the Act? • All employees of a school entity: • public schools • charter schools • cyber charter schools • private schools • nonpublic schools • intermediate units • area vocational-technical school, who have direct contact with children.

  7. How is Direct Contact Defined? • Direct contact with children is defined as “the possibility of care, supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children.”

  8. Gray Area of Training • Volunteers • Student Teachers • Volunteers and student teachers are NOT specifically addressed in the Act as required to receive Act 126 training.* *PDE recommends that school entities check with their solicitor regarding these groups as they are treated similar to employees in other sections of the Public School Code of 1949.

  9. What topics must be included in the training? • Recognition of the signs of abuse, as defined in the Child Protective Services Law; • Recognition of the signs of sexual misconduct, as defined in this Act; • Reporting requirements for suspected abuse and sexual misconduct in the Commonwealth, including those set forth in the Child Protective Services Act and the Professional Educator Discipline Act; • Provisions of the Professional Educator Discipline Act (24 P.S. §2070.1a et seq.), including mandatory reporting requirements; • School entity's policies related to reporting of suspected abuse and sexual misconduct; AND • Maintenance of professional and appropriate relationships with students.

  10. Definition of Sexual Misconduct • Sexual misconduct" – Any act, including, but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written or electronic communication or physical activity, directed toward or with a child or student that is designed to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the child or student. Such acts include, but are not limited to: • (1) Sexual or romantic invitation. • (2) Dating or soliciting dates. • (3) Engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog. • (4) Making sexually suggestive comments. • (5) Self-disclosure or physical exposure of a sexual, romantic or erotic nature. • (6) Any sexual, indecent, romantic or erotic contact with the child or student.

  11. Training School entities have choices when it comes to training their employees: • They can train their employees using their own training model without PDE approval IF they do not award Act 48 credit • If they want to award act 48 credit, they can submit their training model to PDE for review and approval • They can choose a PDE approved provider AND award Act 48 credit

  12. Prospective Providers PDE Approved Act 48 Providers • PA Family Support Alliance (FSA) 717-238-0937 • PA Coalition Against Rape 717-728-9740 • Adams County Children's Advocacy Center 717-337-9888 • PA Chapter of Pediatrics--for medical personnel only • ED Training Center-877-844-0713

  13. Questions? Thank you! Dr. Joe Loccisano jloccisano@pa.gov 717-346-4253

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