An Exploratory Study to Assess School Principals’ Knowledge of Child Welfare Policies

Abstract

Because schools are a customary location to conduct child abuse and neglect investigative interviews, this study examines survey results from 109 principals in Tennessee to determine if the Title I status of a school or years of experience as a principal predict awareness of DCS interview policies and an ability to accurately interpret policies related to school-based interviews. A statistically significant relationship was found between the Title I status of a school and principals’ awareness of interview policies. Not all school principals in Tennessee were aware of or could accurately interpret policies for conducting interviews. This study identified principals being more aware of school district issued policies than state-issued policies, and that including the DCS policy as part of school-district policy may increase awareness.