[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S3062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Blunt):
  S. 1369. A bill to allow funds under title II of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to be used to provide training to 
school personnel regarding how to recognize child sexual abuse; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of myself and 
Senator Blunt, to introduce bipartisan legislation that would expand 
approved uses for the Elementary and Secondary Education Acts 
professional development funding to include training for teachers and 
school personnel on how to recognize signs of sexual abuse in students.
  According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, 
865,643 children were victims of maltreatment in 2013. Approximately 7 
percent, or 60,956 children, were victims of sexual abuse.
  The vast majority of States require that teachers report suspicions 
of child abuse, but most teachers do not receive any training on how to 
see the signs.
  According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, 61 
percent of all reports of child abuse and neglect are made by 
professionals, yet only 17.5 percent of abuse and neglect is reported 
by education personnel.
  Given the amount of time teachers and school personnel spend with 
children, it is critical that the warning signs of child sexual abuse 
are identified and reported and that action is taken. Students must 
also be provided appropriate resources and support if they have been 
abused.
  The Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act of 2015 expands the list 
of allowable uses for Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA, 
Title II funding to permit States to use this funding to provide 
training for teachers, principals, Specialized Instructional Support 
Personnel and paraprofessionals on how to recognize the signs of sexual 
abuse and handle the situation if sexual abuse is identified. Under 
current law, Title II provides grants to states for a variety of 
purposes related to recruitment, retention, and professional 
development of K-12 teachers and principals. Our bill would simply 
allow professional development funds to be used to provide school 
personnel with this important training.
  I am proud that Senator Roy Blunt has joined me as original cosponsor 
on this bill.
  It is essential that as mandated reporters, school personnel have 
access to the proper training to recognize abuse. When no one steps in 
to stop abuse, children can be scarred for their entire lives. If we 
learn to recognize the signs of abuse or neglect, we will be better 
able to foster a safe environment for young people to learn and grow.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1369

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Schools Protect Our 
     Children Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. TRAINING TEACHERS TO RECOGNIZE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.

       (a) State Activities.--Section 2113(c) of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(19) Providing training for all school personnel, 
     including teachers, principals, specialized instructional 
     support personnel, and paraprofessionals, regarding how to 
     recognize child sexual abuse.''.
       (b) Local Educational Agency Activities.--Section 2123(a) 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 6623(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (8) 
     the following:
       ``(9) Providing training for all school personnel, 
     including teachers, principals, specialized instructional 
     support personnel, and paraprofessionals, regarding how to 
     recognize child sexual abuse.''.
       (c) Eligible Partnership Activities.--Section 2134(a) of 
     the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     6634(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) providing training for school personnel, including 
     teachers, principals, specialized instructional support 
     personnel, and paraprofessionals, regarding how to recognize 
     child sexual abuse.''.
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