Levels of Supervision

Pay Attention to Staff-to-Student Ratios

Most states require legally mandated staff-to-student ratios with before or after-school programs requiring different ratios than the school day. Ask your attorney to help you determine what your state requires.

One-on-One Interaction

A school’s goal is to limit any adult employee, volunteer, or coach from being alone with a student or athlete. If your school offers counseling or mentoring, after-school activities, coaching, or other activities that may require one-on-one interaction, put into place the following precautions:

• Obtain prior written consent from the student’s parents/guardians.
• Set a limit for the duration and frequency of any continuing one-on-one contact, like three 30-minute sessions.
• Meet only in a public location where the staff member and the youth are easily observable or interruptible by others.

The Rule of Three

It is recommended that supervision policies and procedures require at least three individuals (at least one of whom is a screened adult employee or volunteer) to be present at every function and in each classroom, office, dormitory room, gym, vehicle, or enclosed area during all activities involving students.

The age, capacity, and familial relationships of school participants should be considered when utilizing the Rule of Three. It is good risk management to require children to be at least five years old when considering the Rule of Three, with the Two Adult Rule (below) being preferred for younger children. Legal difficulties are posed by the competency and credibility of testimony from relatives, very young children, or individuals with other legal incapacities.

Two-Adult Rule

For any activities involving the supervision of young children, such as childcare programs or pre-school, it is recommended that the policy require at least two screened and unrelated adults to be present at every function and in each classroom, gym, vehicle, or enclosed area. This rule creates accountability that helps prevent and deter misconduct. It also helps reduce the ability for anyone to make a false accusation. The level of accountability is diminished if the two adults are married or are otherwise related.