Necessity, Function, and Conformity: 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.
Shall strive toward excellence, recognize the importance of the pursuit of truth, nurture democratic citizenship, and safeguard the freedom to learn and to teach;
Shall believe in the worth and dignity of each human being and in educational opportunities for all;
Shall strive to uphold the responsibilities of the education profession, including the following obligations to students, to parents, and to the education profession:
Shall provide students with professional education services in a nondiscriminatory manner and in consonance with accepted best practice known to the educator;
Shall respect the constitutional rights of all students;
Shall take reasonable measures to protect the health, safety, and emotional well-being of students;
Shall not use professional relationships or authority with students for personal advantage;
Shall keep in confidence information about students which has been obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law;
Shall not knowingly make false or malicious statements about students or colleagues;
Shall refrain from subjecting students to embarrassment or disparagement; and
Shall not engage in any sexually related behavior with a student with or without consent, but shall maintain a professional approach with students. Sexually related behavior shall include such behaviors as sexual jokes; sexual remarks; sexual kidding or teasing; sexual innuendo; pressure for dates or sexual favors; inappropriate physical touching, kissing, or grabbing; rape; threats of physical harm; and sexual assault.
1. Shall make reasonable effort to communicate to parents information which should be revealed in the interest of the student;
Revised Spring 2018