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Beyond Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic: The Role of Teachers and Schools in Reporting Child Maltreatment

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  • Cassandra Benson
  • Maria D. Fitzpatrick
  • Samuel Bondurant

Abstract

Nearly four in ten children report experiencing maltreatment by adulthood. Educators in school settings may be crucial for early detection that mitigates maltreatment’s negative effects. Administrative data on reports of child maltreatment across the United States over 14 years allow us to use two different regression discontinuity methods, one based on school-entry laws and one on school calendars, to identify the role of educators in reporting. Both methods show educators are reporting cases that would otherwise go unreported. These findings are relevant for understanding the consequences of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and for improving identification and reporting.

Suggested Citation

  • Cassandra Benson & Maria D. Fitzpatrick & Samuel Bondurant, 2025. "Beyond Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic: The Role of Teachers and Schools in Reporting Child Maltreatment," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 60(1), pages 153-186.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:60:y:2025:i:1:p:153-186
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0319-10084R2
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    Cited by:

    1. Amalia R. Miller & Carmit Segal & Melissa K. Spencer, 2024. "Effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on domestic violence in Los Angeles," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 91(361), pages 163-187, January.
    2. Anthony Bald & Eric Chyn & Justine Hastings & Margarita Machelett, 2022. "The Causal Impact of Removing Children from Abusive and Neglectful Homes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(7), pages 1919-1962.
    3. -, 2020. "Violence against children and adolescents in the time of COVID-19," Coediciones, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), number 46486 edited by Cepal, September.
    4. Clarke, Damian & Larroulet, Pilar & Pailañir, Daniel & Quintana, Daniela, 2023. "Schools as Safety Nets: Break-Downs and Recovery in Reporting of Violence against Children," IZA Discussion Papers 15859, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Malte Sandner & Stephan L. Thomsen & Libertad González Luna, 2020. "Preventing child maltreatment: Beneficial side effects of public childcare provision," Economics Working Papers 1744, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    6. Sofia Amaral & Victoria Endl-Geyer & Helmut Rainer, 2020. "Familiäre Gewalt und die Covid-19-Pandemie: Ein Überblick über die erwarteten Auswirkungen und mögliche Auswege," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 73(07), pages 52-56, July.
    7. Damian Clarke & Pilar Larroulet & Daniel Paila~nir & Daniela Quintana, 2022. "Schools as a Safety-net: The Impact of School Closures and Reopenings on Rates of Reporting of Violence Against Children," Papers 2206.14612, arXiv.org.
    8. Leslie, Emily & Wilson, Riley, 2020. "Sheltering in place and domestic violence: Evidence from calls for service during COVID-19," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    9. Baron, E. Jason & Goldstein, Ezra G. & Wallace, Cullen T., 2020. "Suffering in silence: How COVID-19 school closures inhibit the reporting of child maltreatment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    10. Lindsey Rose Bullinger & Jillian B. Carr & Analisa Packham, 2020. "COVID-19 and Crime: Effects of Stay-at-Home Orders on Domestic Violence," NBER Working Papers 27667, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Francisco Cabrera-Hernández & Marí­a Padilla-Romo, 2020. "Hidden Violence: How COVID-19 School Closures Reduced the Reporting of Child Maltreatment," Working Papers 2020-02, University of Tennessee, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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