Which are common signs of possible abuse or neglect you should report?

• A. Unexplained injuries, frequent unexplained absences, drastic changes in behavior, poor supervision, or inconsistent care.
• B. Regular attendance and stable behavior.
• C. Consistently high grades.
• D. Taking on extra responsibilities at home.

Answer: (A)

Recognizing red flags of potential abuse or neglect is crucial for student safety. The strongest indicators to report are injuries that have no plausible explanation, frequent unexplained absences, drastic changes in behavior, and concerns about supervision or care that seems inconsistent. Unexplained injuries can signal physical harm; repeated unexplained absences may reflect neglect or living in unsafe conditions. A sharp shift in how a student acts—suddenly withdrawn, fearful, aggressive, or unusually anxious—often points to distress at home or in their environment. Poor supervision or inconsistent caregiving raises concerns about safety and well-being. When these factors appear together, they signal potential harm that should be documented and reported to the appropriate authorities or school personnel.

Choices that describe regular attendance and stable behavior, consistently high grades, or taking on extra responsibilities at home do not in themselves indicate abuse or neglect, so they aren’t signals that something is wrong requiring reporting.