What is the responsibility of site administrators regarding suspected child abuse?

• A. Site administrators must ensure a report is made and may need to investigate alleged inappropriate conduct
• B. Interrogate the child themselves
• C. Determine the legality of the acts
• D. Publicly disclose the case

Answer: (A)

When there is suspected child abuse, the priority is safeguarding the student by getting the right authorities involved promptly. Site administrators are responsible for making sure a report is filed with the appropriate agency (such as Child Protective Services or law enforcement) and for documenting the steps taken. They may perform a limited internal check to gather the facts that will inform the report and help ensure the student’s safety, but they do not determine guilt or legality themselves. Interrogating the child or making public disclosures would overstep their role and could interfere with an investigation, so those actions are not appropriate. In short, the administrator’s duty is to ensure the report is made and to coordinate a careful, confidential response that protects the student while cooperating with investigators.