The schools of the district shall make every effort to identify possible missing children and to notify the proper agencies and authorities. A missing child is defined as a person under age 18 missing from his/her normal residence and whose whereabouts cannot be determined by a person responsible for the child’s care and any child known to have been taken, enticed or concealed from the custody of his/her lawful guardian by a person who has no legal right to do so.
In accordance with law, a Building Principal or other designated employee who has reasonable cause to believe that a student may be a possible missing child shall immediately report and make inquiry of the Statewide Central Register for Missing Children. This would include reporting any child for whom proof of age was unavailable upon admission to school. If it is indicated that such child may be a possible missing child, the Principal shall immediately notify local law enforcement.
The Superintendent of Schools shall cooperate with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service to determine whether any child who has been identified as missing is currently or has previously been enrolled in one or more of the district’s schools. If so, the student’s records shall be prominently flagged and identified so that personnel can readily ascertain that it is the record of a missing child. District personnel shall promptly report to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services and local law enforcement any request concerning such flagged records.
Cross-ref: 5500, Student Records
Ref: Education Law §§3212; 3222 Executive Law §837-e
Note: Policy added
a*d
Policy Adopted: January 26, 1998