Act 48 - Professional Ethics: PA Codes & School Law
If I am awarding the 4 Professional Development Hours on PERMS, the class consists of four, one hour sessions on consecutive weeks:
Monday Pre-session #1 email:
| Wednesday Chat Hour (optional)
| Thursday Interactive Session (mandatory) Session Objectives Open Mics Study Hall teacher Case Study #1 | ||
Pre-session #2 email:
| Chat Hour (optional)
| Interactive Session (mandatory) Session Objectives Open Mics Boundary Case Study #2 | ||
Pre-session #3 email:
| Chat Hour (optional)
| Interactive Session (mandatory) Session Objectives Open Mics Carol Slater v. PA Dept. of Education Case Study #3 | ||
Pre-session #4 email:
| Chat Hour (optional)
| Interactive Session (mandatory) Session Objectives Open Mics Educator Ethics Professional Learning Community at your Local Education Agency? |
- Composed of four, one hour sessions over 4 weeks. Specific days to be determined.
- Cost is $150 per participant.
- Course was approved by PDE in June, 2023 to include required Professional Ethics Framework standards.
If your LEA is awarding the Professional Development Hours on PERMS (assuming two Inservice Days):
Inservice Day #1 email:
| InService Day #1- AM Schedule Hour One: Answer questions from readings or MCEE video; Hour Two: MCEE Session Objectives Open Mics Study Hall Teacher Case Study #1 | PM Schedule Hour One: Answer questions from readings and/or PA Code of Conduct video; Hour Two: PA Code of Conduct Session Objectives Open Mics Boundaries Case Study #2 |
Inservice Day #2 email:
| InService Day #2- AM Schedule Hour One: Answer questions from readings or Commission video; Hour Two: Professional Standards & Practices Commission Session Objectives Open Mics Carol Slater v. PA Dept. of Education Case Study #1 | PM Schedule Hour One: Answer questions from readings and/or Educator Discipline Act (EDA) video; Hour Two: PA EDA Session Objectives Open Mics Professional Ethics Learning Community at Your LEA #2 |
Career & Technical Centers (CTC)
We offer different versions of our Act 48 Course to you!
The case studies have different settings based upon the contrasting facilities and class schedules within a CTC and a school district setting.
Most CTC Shops already instruct and assess their students on the professional ethical code the students will need to follow when they work in that occupation. As a result our Session Four Ethics PLC and Model Classroom lessons are different.
Act 48 Course Description- This Course equips participants with knowledge of the:
- Model Code of Ethics for Educators;
- PA Code of Professional Practice & Conduct for Educators
- differences between a code of ethics and a code of conduct;
- Educators Discipline Act; and
- PA Professional Standards & Practices Commission.
Learning Objectives
Course participants will learn...
- What are the four, fundamental concepts of the "Ethical equilibrium" designed to aid educators in making ethical decisions?
- What is the difference between a moral and ethical standard?
- What are the five principles of the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE)?
- List at least four characteristics that differentiate a code of ethics from a code of conduct.
- Distinguish between the roles played by PDE's Office of Chief Counsel and the Professional Standards & Practices Commission within PDE's professional disciplinary process.
- Identify the Pennsylvania code for educator conduct, violation of which could result in loss of certification to teach in this state.
- Identify two values, one required behavior and one prohibited behavior written into the PA Code of Conduct. Do you agree or disagree with these examples?
- After discussing the Boundaries Case Study, explain how the PA Code of Conduct informs your practice as an educator?
- In state discipline, what form is filed with PDE alleging an educator acted inappropriately?
- What happened to the number of Educator Misconduct Complaints filed with PDE between 2011 and 2019?
- What state statute is referenced in the Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators giving PDE the power to initiate legal action to sanction an educator's teaching certificate?
- If Commission members determine that an educator has violated state law, what sanctions may the Commission impose on the educator?
- Would the voluntary creation and operation of an Ethics Professional Learning Committee help LEA educators make better professional decisions? Why or why not?
How Do I Register for this Course?
Registration can be accomplished in two ways.
You may pay $150 per participant at Upcoming Classes page (in the Top Menu bar) via PayPal; OR
You may mail a School District or Career Technology Center check, along with a cover letter with your contact info, to:
Tom Bailey, PO Box 83, Verona, PA 15147
Requirements to earn 4 PERMS hours
if I am awarding the hours...
- appear in person, via camera, throughout all four sessions. If a Participant is absent for a session, the full session is made up at a subsequent date/time agreed to by the Participant and myself;
- Participants must submit PDE Survey Form 3527 and the the Quiz Mr Bailey within two weeks of completion of Session 4.
Participants must 6 out of 10 total items correct on the Quiz;
If your school entity is awarding the PERMS hours, you school entity will determine the requirements for you to earn your PERMS hours.
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