• The school counselor's fundamental responsibility is to provide students with a platform to reach their full potential in academics, careers, personal life, and social life (TEC § 33.006). 
• The school counselor shall participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated and comprehensive developmental guidance program (TEC § 33.006). 
• That assists all students and addresses the special needs of students who may drop out of school, become substance abusers, engage in gang activity, or commit suicide (TEC § 33.006).

• the court ruled that school counselors have a duty to use reasonable means to attempt to prevent the suicide. 
• In response to that case, school districts now have policies in place for parents and school officials to be notified when their kids express suicidal ideation.

• Some of the most important practices that need to be in place when working with suicidal students is having a team together that has created procedures that need to be in place when a crisis happens. 
• Have a program in place to that promotes the prevention, intervention and postvention of suicide.
• Provide staff and students with resources need to identify possible warning signs.
• Knowing that reports about must be made within 48 hours of suspecting abuse or neglect.
• Being open and honest with student about confidentiality.

• The act of failing to make a report  constitutes an offense if a person knowingly fails to make a report. 
• Failing to report is a Class A misdemeanor.
• As a mandatory reporter you are not required by law to report your suspicion to a colleague or supervisor, although it is recommend.

• In the event that a person has reason to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person, they shall immediately file a report (TFC § 261.101 (a)).
• As an mandatory reporter, you are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect within 48 hours of first suspecting abuse or neglect (TFC § 261.101 (b)).
• As an mandatory you may NOT delegate the duty of reporting to any other person (TFC § 261.101 (b)).

• Addresses the importance of  integrating social and emotional learning into student learning and professional-development. As awareness is key to providing  the proper prevention, intervention and postvention resources.
• Addresses providing information and resources to families, including the suicide-prevention hotlines, crisis text lines, and community-based resources.
• Addresses the importance of learning the warning signs and risk factors that are associated with suicide and having a plan in place in order to connect students to care resources.

• Addresses the scope of negligence, faced against a elementary school  principal and  the assistant principal, that resulted in the suicide of a 8-year old student.
• Duty of Care- shows how the school failed to report to parents that the student was attacked in the school bathroom, lying stating that he fainted instead of the truth.  
• Breach of Care- The assistant principal failed to call an ambulance once the student was found unconscious, for more than seven minutes.
• This case shows the legal ramifications of not protecting students and not providing parents with the proper notification when students are put at risk.
• The case showed the lack of a safety and prevention plan on the part of the school. Example- Anti-bullying follow through, the monitoring of bathrooms and limiting the number of students outside the classroom.

Citation:  Walsh, M. (2020). Federal Appeals Court Lets Lawsuit Proceed Against Educators in Student's Suicide. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/federal-appeals-court-lets-lawsuit-proceed-against-educators-in-students-suicide/2020/12.