Laying the Groundwork: How to Prepare for Student Interviews

Interviewing children about sensitive allegations is one of the most delicate responsibilities K-12 investigators face. The ultimate goal is to gather accurate, reliable, and complete information in a way that is respectful, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate.

The choices you make before the first question is even asked can have a profound impact on a child’s comfort level, willingness to disclose, and the accuracy of the information shared.

Below are key considerations for preparing to interview a child in the context of staff misconduct or other serious school investigations.

Choosing the Right Location

The interview environment matters. Select a quiet, private space free from distractions and away from prying eyes. For example, the interview should not be next to the respondent’s classroom or where the alleged incident occurred. 

While in-person interviews are usually best, virtual formats can sometimes be effective, especially if the student requests one. The key is ensuring the child feels safe, supported, and able to speak openly.

Selecting the Interviewer(s)

Interviewing a six-year-old and a sixteen-year-old are two very different tasks. K–12 investigators should be ready to adapt their techniques to meet each child’s developmental needs and abilities. 

Skilled interviewers understand that effective interviewing goes beyond the questions asked. Cultural awareness, demeanor, appearance, and style all shape how a child perceives and responds to the process. The best interviewers adjust their approach to build trust and support honest disclosure.

Beyond selecting the right interviewer(s), Campus Integrity Group equips clients with other best practices for conducting student interviews, including managing parent participation, pairing investigators for maximum effectiveness, navigating developmental and other disabilities, approaching sensitive topics, and creating an interview environment that balances professionalism with comfort and safety.

Timing and Coordination

K-12 schools want students to feel comfortable disclosing staff misconduct to any trusted adult. But when a child first reports a complaint to someone outside the trained investigative team, your staff should know how to listen, document and report the concern, and avoid probing for details. That work belongs to trained investigators. 

If law enforcement or child protective services are involved, coordinate closely to prevent      overlapping interviews that could overwhelm the child or compromise a criminal case. In the meantime, there are many steps you can take to advance your school investigation.

Preparation is Key

Asking a child to share details of a traumatic event can, in itself, be traumatic. While follow-up interviews may sometimes be necessary, every interview should be approached with thorough preparation. This means more than drafting questions (although a detailed outline is also essential). 

Preparation also requires a clear understanding of the allegations, roles and backgrounds of the involved individuals, knowledge of the governing policies, and a careful review of all available evidence before the interview begins. 

Final Thoughts

Effective child interviews require much more than well-crafted questions. They demand thorough preparation, sensitivity to timing and setting, and careful choices about who conducts the interview and how it is approached. With first-hand experience in these complex situations, Campus Integrity Group helps schools implement practical, proven strategies to support safe, effective interviews.