The Cochise County School Superintendent’s Office is organizing a Mandated Reporting Training session to help educators and community members understand the requirements of Senate Bill 1437. Lori Zucco, Cochise County Attorney, will lead the training. The law, which took effect on September 26, 2025, sets clear responsibilities for school employees regarding the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.
The training will explain who is required to report suspected abuse. According to the law, all school personnel—including teachers, administrators, support staff, custodians, substitute teachers, and governing board members of school districts or charter schools—are considered mandated reporters.
Participants will also learn where reports should be made. Suspected cases must be reported directly to local law enforcement agencies or the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). The session will cover how interviews with potential child victims must follow established forensic interview protocols in accordance with local procedures.
The event is open to educators and community members and will take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, March 2, 2026 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Interested participants can join using Meeting ID: 821 1580 9694 and Passcode: 938139.
Recent educational data from Cochise County highlights challenges faced by students in core subjects. In the most recent academic year, only about one-quarter of high schoolers passed the mathematics section of the ACT exam (https://www.azed.gov/), while just over a quarter of students in grades three through eight passed the mathematics portion of the AASA assessment (https://www.azed.gov/).
“Who must report: The law clarifies that all school personnel are mandated reporters. This includes teachers, administrators, support staff, custodians, substitute teachers, and governing board members of school districts or charter schools.”
“Where to report: Suspected abuse or neglect must be reported directly to the appropriate law enforcement agency and/or the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS).”
“How to report: When abuse is suspected, interviews with potential child victims must follow established local forensic interview protocols.”
This training aims to ensure that those working with children understand their legal obligations when it comes to safeguarding student welfare.
