Child Abuse Prevention Plan – Supervision

Supervision is another critical component of minimizing the risk of abuse in your school. Supervision policies are needed for both on- and off-site activities. Your supervision policy should address what is and isn’t acceptable when adults must meet with students one-on-one. Work with your attorney to develop a policy and agreement for situations that require strict confidentiality, such as counseling situations.

Additionally, policies and procedures that include strong guidelines for eliminating unsupervised or uninterruptable one-on-one interaction can be extremely helpful in reducing the potential for abuse. Your policy specifically may list areas that are off limits without proper supervision (no-go zones). These could be offices, equipment storage buildings, backstage areas, darkroom, greenhouse, locker rooms, etc.

Sample Policy Language
Supervision

1. The school will provide the same level of student supervision required by the public school district in which it is located.

2. Whenever practical, the rule of three or at least two adult staff members will be present at every school activity involving students. When this is not consistent with essential school operations (for example, periods of instruction when staffing limitations will not allow for two adults per classroom), a lone staff member will never be alone with a single student. For purposes of this policy, “adult” means a staff member at least 18 years of age and at least five years older than the oldest student being supervised.

3. Every reasonable effort will be made to maintain appropriate staff-to-student ratios. Appropriate staff- to-student ratios are determined by recommendations from relevant state agencies. The staff-to-student ratio should never be 1-to-1.

4. During normal periods of instruction, there should be random patrolling of hallways, restrooms, and common areas by a screened employee or volunteer.  Identify areas that are off-limits to students without proper supervision through the rule of three or two-adult rule.

5. When practical, and with written parental consent, individual students will receive needed spiritual/emotional counseling with two staff members present. When only one staff member conducts the counseling session, the session will be conducted in view of other staff members in a public place. One-on-one counseling will be limited to no more than three sessions, with each session lasting no longer than 30 minutes. If additional counseling is required, the student will be referred to a qualified professional counselor.

6. The school will release students only to parents, legal guardians, or approved caregivers as directed by parents in writing.

7. Students who are not driving themselves will only be released to their parents or a driver designated by their parents in writing.

8. Parents who authorize their students to drive themselves must sign an appropriate acknowledgement and waiver before the school will allow the students to drive themselves.

9. Parental written approval also will be required before students are allowed to drive themselves to lunch away from the school or for appointments that may be scheduled during school hours.

10. Parents whose students will be using a bus service provided by the school must sign an appropriate acknowledgement and waiver before the student will be allowed to ride the bus. Students riding the bus will be dropped off at their home address unless the student’s parents have indicated another drop-off location in writing. If children under the age of 5 will be riding the bus, a second screened adult should be present.

11. Adult employees and volunteers should avoid traveling in a vehicle one-on-one with a minor.

Posted March 2023
This is a sample policy only. Your organization is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. Accordingly, this document should not be used or adopted by your organization without first being reviewed and approved by a licensed attorney in your area. Brotherhood Mutual assumes no liability in preparation and distribution of this sample document.