Student Abuse Investigations

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has the legal authority to conduct an assessment of student abuse when a credible report is alleged from an identifiable source that:

• The victim is a student.
  • A student means a person enrolled in a public school, a nonpublic school, or a prekindergarten program in a public school or a nonpublic school.
• The student is subjected to one of the following categories of child abuse:
  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Prostitution of a child
• The abuse is the result of the acts or omissions of:
  • A person employed by a public school or a nonpublic
    school.
  • A vendor, or an employee of a vendor, that provides goods
    or services to a public school or a nonpublic school.
  • An agent, or an employee of an agent, of a public school
    or a nonpublic school.
  • A volunteer under the direction and control of any of the
    following:
    • The board of directors or any administrator of a public
      school district.
    • The board or authorities in control of a nonpublic
      school.
    • The board of directors or administrator of an agency
      called upon by a school official to provide services to
      students in an educational capacity.
• The student abuse occurred:
  • On school grounds during school time.
  • On or at a school-related curricular or extracurricular activity.

Not all student abuse reports will turn into investigations. If a report does not meet criteria, it will not be accepted by HHS. If a report does not meet HHS criteria, the reporter may still report the concern to their school.

Printable Fact Sheet

In the 2025 Legislative Session, SF 659 passed, requiring HHS to investigate specific instances of student abuse reports.