Student Services

Mandated Reporting 

All district employees fall under the definition of Mandated Reporter. The following process must be followed whenever there is suspected abuse of one of our students:

Making a Report of Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect 

Mandated reporters must make an immediate report to CI by telephone or through the online reporting system, of suspected child abuse or child neglect. Within 72 hours after making an oral report by telephone, the reporting person shall file a written report (DHS-3200). If the immediate report has been made using the online reporting system, no additional written report is required.

Reporting the suspected allegations of child abuse and/or neglect to the building administration does not fulfill the requirement to report directly to DHHS.

The verbal report can be completed by calling 855-444-3911 or via ISD_Partnership Landing (michigan.gov).

The individual who had contact with the child must make the report and provide as much detail as possible about the following information:

• The child's primary caretaker, including name and address.
• Names and birth dates for all members of the household.
• Name and birth date of the alleged perpetrator(s).
• Whether the alleged perpetrator lives with the child.
• Address where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred.
• What makes the mandated reporter suspect the child is being abused or neglected.

The Child Protection Law requires that the written report include the following information:

• Name of child.
• Description of abuse or neglect.
• Names and addresses of child's parents/guardians.
• The person's with whom the child resides.
• Child's age.
• Other information available to the reporting person that might establish the cause of the abuse or neglect, and the manner in which the abuse or neglect occurred.

MDHHS encourages the use of the Report of Actual or Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (DHS-3200) form when filing the written report, which includes all the information required under the law. If more than one mandated reporter suspects child abuse or neglect based upon the same incident, they may submit just one DHS-3200 form.

Confidentiality of a Mandated Reporters' Identity

The identity of a reporting person is confidential under the Child Protection Law. The identity of a reporting person is subject to disclosure only with the consent of that person, by judicial process or to those listed under Section 5 of the Child Protection Law (MCL 722.625).

Civil and Criminal Liability

Mandated reporters, who fail to file a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, will be subject to both civil and criminal liability. In a civil action, the mandated reporter may be held liable for all damages that any person suffers due to the mandated reporters' failure to file a report. In a criminal action, the mandated reporter may be found guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 93 days and a fine of $500.

A person making a good faith report is protected from civil and criminal prosecution and cannot be penalized for making the report or cooperating with a CPS investigation.

Mandated Reporter Hotline

If a mandated reporter is dissatisfied with the response by MDHHS, the mandated reporter may contact the Mandated Reporter Hotline at 877-277-2585. Prior to doing so, the mandated reporter must first attempt to talk with our local MDHHS office director about his or her concerns.

View the Guide to Detailed Reporting (Downloadable) to understand what information should be included when reporting.

School Safety

Our district staff has been trained in ALICE (Alert/Lockdown/Inform/Counter/Evacuate) procedures in the event of unauthorized persons entering our school buildings. Beginning in January, we will transition from our traditional shelter-in-place lockdown drills to ALICE drills. 

ALICE training will equip our students with knowledge of what they can do in an emergency. It will also demonstrate how to be aware of their surroundings, explain their options, and reinforce that adults will support them. 

Classroom staff will share the following information with students.

• Students will practice the classroom ALICE drill after being instructed by their teachers, just like they practice fire and tornado drills.
• The staff and students will be notified when an “ALICE” drill will begin. 
• Teachers will instruct students to quietly listen to the adult(s) in the classroom or the announcements and that it is important to listen carefully.   
• During the drills, teachers will remind students that there will be options depending on the situation. Students will practice barricading and evacuating during each drill. 
• As with all of our drills, there will be an emphasis on listening to the adult(s) they are with so that students can react appropriately.

We are providing this information to strengthen your understanding of what we share with students and allow you to have conversations at home. We appreciate your support.

Student Code of Conduct

Wayne-Westland Community School District  Department of Student Services has released the 2024-2025 District Handbook and Student Code of Conduct.

Please take time with your student(s) to read and review the Handbook to familiarize yourselves with district policies, procedures, and processes that will help ensure an excellent school year for all involved.

The handbook includes district information about academics, attendance, communication, food and cafeteria, technology, student code of conduct, Non-Discrimination Policy, school rules and discipline as well as general information.

2024-2025 District Handbook and Student Code of Conduct

For further information, please contact John Besek, Director of Student Services K-12 at BesekJ@wwcsd.net.

Wayne-Westland Community Schools K-12 Attendance Protocol
 

• One (1) absence and every absence thereafter - An automated call will be sent to indicate that the student has missed an attendance period. If a call was made to the school to excuse the absence, this call does not go out.
   
• Three (3) absences or equivalent - A teacher will make a phone call to discuss the reason(s) for the absences and seek to support the family in getting the child to school.
   
• Six (6) absences or equivalent - An attendance letter is sent to communicate the district’s concern about attendance and highlight the steps in the attendance protocol.
   
• Nine (9) absences or equivalent - A meeting will be set up between the family and an administrator or support staff member to discuss attendance barriers and to highlight the urgency of regular attendance.
   
• Twelve (12) absences or equivalent - Student’s name and address are submitted to Concentric to conduct a home visit. The school will notify parents of the upcoming visit. The details of that home visit are shared with the school to support the student’s regular attendance in school. The middle and high school students’ names and addresses will also be submitted to Westland Youth Assistance or Wayne Youth Services for enrollment in their programming. The second attendance letter is also mailed home at this time.
   
• Fifteen (15) absences or equivalent - Final attendance letter is sent home.
   
• Eighteen (18) absences or equivalent - Student is referred to Wayne County through formal petition for chronic absenteeism.