Teachers and administrators of the Shelby County Schools System are obligated by law to report to the proper authority certain acts of misconduct.

Every teacher observing or otherwise having knowledge of an assault and battery or vandalism endangering life, health, or safety committed by a student on school property shall report such action immediately to the principal of the school. Every principal having direct knowledge of an assault and battery or vandalism endangering life, health, or safety committed by a student on school property or receiving a report of such action, shall report such action immediately to the municipal or metropolitan police department or sheriff's department having jurisdiction.

Any person who has knowledge of or is called upon to render aid to any child who is suffering from or has sustained any wound, injury, disability, or physical or mental condition shall report such harm immediately if the harm is of such a nature as to reasonably indicate that it has been caused by brutality, abuse or neglect or that, on the basis of available information, reasonably appears to have been caused by brutality, abuse or neglect.

Any such person with knowledge of the type of harm described above shall report it, by telephone or otherwise, to the:

Department of Children and Human Services; or
Sheriff of the county where the child resides; or
Chief law enforcement official of the municipality where the child resides.

Any person, school teacher, school official or school personnel who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been sexually abused shall report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Children and Human Services. Any employee failing to report suspicion or evidence of child abuse or child sexual abuse shall face disciplinary action up to and including termination.


T.C.A. § 49-6-4301
T.C.A. § 39-1-403
T.C.A. § 37-1-605