Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board Code of Ethics

Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board – Code of Ethics http: //www. epsb. ky. gov/legal/index. asp

Code of Ethics • KRS 161. 028 requires that the Education Professional Standards Board develop a professional code of ethics. • This administrative regulation establishes the code of ethics for Kentucky school certified personnel and establishes that violation of the code of ethics may be grounds for revocation or suspension of Kentucky certification for professional school personnel by the Education Professional Standards Board.

Certified Personnel Shall • Strive toward excellence, recognize the importance of the pursuit of truth, nurture democratic citizenship, and safeguard the freedom to learn and to teach; • Believe in the worth and dignity of each human being and in educational opportunities for all; • Strive to uphold the responsibilities of the education profession, including the following obligations to students, to parents, and to the education profession:

Focus on Relationships with Stakeholders • The Code of Ethics includes additional subsections related to relationships with stakeholders and the profession o Students o Parents o Education Profession

In Regards to Students • Highlights o Respecting the rights of students o Providing reasonable measures to protect the safety and well-being of students o Ensuring confidentiality o Maintaining honestly and integrity o Refraining from embarrassing or disparaging students o Maintaining professional relationships with students by refraining from inappropriate and sexual relationships

In Regards to Parents • Highlights o Make reasonable efforts to communicate with families o Endeavor to understand the students’ culture and home environment o Do not misrepresent facts o Distinguish between personal views and those of the district o Do not interferer with political rights of others o Do not use your position for personal gain or accept favors to give others an unfair advantage

In Regards to Education Profession • Highlights o Exemplify behaviors which maintain the dignity and integrity of the profession o Provide equal treatment to other members of the profession o Maintain confidentiality o Do not coerce or give special treatment to influence professional decisions o Accept positions one is qualified for in preparation and legal standing o Do not falsify or misrepresents records of fact

Violations • The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all cases of educator misconduct. o Kentucky Revised Statute 161. 028 stipulates that the EPSB has the authority to suspend or revoke the certificates of educators that engage in misconduct, or impose other conditions that protect the safety of students, and the integrity of the profession. • EPSB annually processes more than 300 disciplinary cases and 250 character and fitness cases.