Act 48 - Professional Ethics: PA Codes & School Law 



  • This course awards 4 Professional Development hours on PERMS.

  • It is composed of four, one hour sessions over four weeks.  We offer the same content over two inservice days with Local LEA awarding PERMS Hours. See options below.

  • Course was approved by PDE in June, 2023


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

Session One

  • What are the five principles of the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE)?
  • 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?
  • List at least four characteristics that differentiate a code of ethics from a code of conduct.

Session Two

  • 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?

Session Three

  • 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?

Session Four

  • Would the voluntary creation and operation of an Ethics Professional Learning Committee help LEA educators make better professional decisions? Why or why not?

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.  



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:

  • Session objectives
  • reading assignments:
  • link to Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE) video (30 minutes)
  • link for Chat Hour
  • link for Interactive Session



Wednesday

Chat Hour (optional)

  • Materials check
  • answer questions  from readings or MCEE video

Thursday

Interactive Session (mandatory)

Session Objectives

Open Mics

Study Hall teacher Case Study #1




Pre-session #2 email:

  • Session objectives
  • reading assignments
  • link for Intro PA Code of Conduct video (30 minutes)
  • link for Chat Hour
  • link for Interactive Session



Chat Hour (optional)

  • Materials check
  • answer questions  from reading or PA Code of Conduct video


Interactive Session (mandatory)

Session Objectives

Open Mics

Boundary Case Study #2



Pre-session #3 email:

  • Session objectives
  • reading assignments
  • link for Intro Professional Standards & Practices Commission (Commission) video
  • link for Chat Hour
  • link for Interactive Session



Chat Hour (optional)

  • Materials check
  • answer questions  from reading or Commission video


Interactive Session (mandatory)

Session Objectives

Open Mics

Carol Slater v. PA Dept. of Education Case Study #3



Pre-session #4 email:

  • Session objectives
  • reading assignments
  • link for Intro Educator Discipline Act (EDA) video
  • link for Chat Hour
  • link for Interactive Session



Chat Hour (optional)

  • Materials check
  • answer questions  from reading or EDA video


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:

  • Session 1 & Session 2 objectives
  • reading assignments
  • link for Intro Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE)  and Professional Standards & Practices Commission (PA Code of Conduct) videos (each 30 minutes)
  • link for Chat Hour
  • link for Interactive Session


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:

  • Session 3 & Session 4 objectives
  • reading assignments
  • link for Intro Professional Standards & Practices Commission (Commission)   and Educator Discipline Act (EDA) videos (each 30 minutes)
  • link for Chat Hour
  • link for Interactive Session


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










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, your school entity will determine the requirements for you to earn your PERMS hours.


 


 
  

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