Employee Code of Professional Conduct Policy

Freeburg Community High School

Employee Code of Professional Conduct Policy


Part 1: Illinois Educator Code of Ethics

Part 2. Sexual Conduct Policy (Faith’s Law)



PART 1.  ILLINOIS EDUCATOR CODE OF ETHICS (23 II Adm Code 22.20)

The Illinois Educator Code of Ethics was developed by members of the Illinois Educator Code of Ethics Advisory Group. The advisory group was comprised of esteemed educators from across the state of Illinois whose charge included drafting a set of recommendations for the Illinois State Board of Education to be used as the basis for developing the Code of Ethics for Educators in Illinois. In preparing these recommendations, the advisory group:

 Part 22, Code of Ethics for Illinois Educators, was written in response to a need identified in the process of developing the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, which are contained in Part 24 of agency rules. After researching and evaluating the content, format, and frameworks from codes of ethics for educators in numerous states, education agencies, and associations, the Illinois Educator Code of Ethics Advisory Group chose the Rhode Island Educator Code of Professional Responsibility as a model for developing the Code of Ethics for Illinois Educators. This code, which is founded on the premise that Illinois educators must meet the educational needs of each student, defines five core principles: (1) Responsibility to Students; (2) Responsibility to Self; (3) Responsibility to Colleagues and the Profession; (4) Responsibility to Parents, Families and Communities; and (5) Responsibility to the Illinois State Board of Education.





ILLINOIS EDUCATOR CODE OF ETHICS

23 II Adm Code 22.20

 Preamble

 Educators fundamentally believe that meeting the educational needs of each student is critical to the profession. The Illinois Educators’ Code of Ethics is a set of core principles, values, and responsibilities that sets expectations to guide practice and inspire professional excellence in relation to federal, state, and local policies, rules, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. Illinois educators encourage the application of these core principles throughout the education community.

 Definition of Educator

An educator is a person who holds or is applying for a certificate or approval, or is enrolled in an Illinois pre-service education preparation program.

 Principles

The Illinois Educator Code of Ethics contains five core principles which provide a foundation for the responsibilities and commitments of Illinois Educators.

1.        Responsibility to Students

2.     Responsibility to Self

3.        Responsibility to Colleagues and the Profession

4.        Responsibility to Parents, Families and Communities

5.        Responsibility to the Illinois State Board of Education


PRINCIPLE 1: RESPONSIBILITY TO STUDENTS

 The Illinois educator is committed to creating, promoting, and implementing a learning environment that is accessible to each student, enables students to achieve the highest academic potential, and maximizes their ability to succeed in academic and employment settings as a responsible member of society. Illinois educators: 

 

 PRINCIPLE 2: RESPONSIBILITY TO SELF

 The Illinois Educator is committed to establishing high professional standards for their practice and striving to meet these standards through their performance. Illinois Educators:

                PRINCIPLE 3: RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLEAGUES AND THE PROFESSION

 The Illinois Educator is committed to collaborating with school and district colleagues and other professionals in the interest of student learning. Illinois Educators:


PRINCIPLE 4: RESPONSIBILITY TO PARENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

 The Illinois Educator will collaborate, build trust, and respect confidentiality with parents, families, and communities to create effective instruction and learning environments for each student. Illinois Educators:

 

PRINCIPAL 5: RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Illinois Educator is committed to supporting the Administrative and School Codes, state and federal laws and regulations, and the Illinois State Board of Education’s standards for highly qualified educators. Illinois Educators:


Part II: Sexual Conduct Policy (Faith’s Law)

     Faith’s Law is named after prevention advocate and child sexual abuse survivor Faith Colson, who graduated from an Illinois high school in the early 2000s. Faith was sexually abused by a teacher at her high school. Years later, during the course of legal proceedings related to the abuse, Faith learned that several adults within her high school suspected that the teacher’s relationship with her was inappropriate but did not take appropriate action to report their concerns. As a result of her experiences, Faith pushed for change to state laws related to educator sexual misconduct in K-12 schools. 

Sexual Misconduct Defined: (Section 85.8 ( c ) of the School Code)


 Expectations and Guidelines for Employee-Student Boundaries


Employee-Student Boundaries Categories


Expectations for employees and agents of the school district regarding how to maintain a professional relationship with students, including the expectations for staff-student boundaries; recognize the age and developmental level of the students served; establish guidelines for all of the following situations:


TRANSPORTING A STUDENT

School Vehicles:

Use of Private Vehicles:

School vehicles should be considered and utilized first in any transportation event. 

 

TAKING OR POSSESSING A PHOTO OR VIDEO OF A STUDENT

Taking and using photos/videos of students for educational purposes, with student and parent/guardian consent, while abiding by student records laws, policies, and procedures.


MEETING WITH A STUDENT OR CONTACTING A STUDENT OUTSIDE OF THE EMPLOYEE’S OR AGENT’S PROFESSIONAL ROLE

 EDUCATORS ARE MANDATED REPORTERS

School personnel (including administrators and certified and noncertified school employees) are Mandated Reporters. Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child under the age of 18 by:

The mistreatment can either result in injury or put the child at serious risk of injury. Child abuse can be physical (i.e. bruises or broken bones), sexual (i.e. fondling or incest) or mental (emotional injury or psychological illness).

Neglect is the failure of a parent or caretaker to meet “minimal parenting” standards for providing adequate supervision, food, clothing, medical care, shelter or other basic needs.


Completion of Illinois Department of Child & Family Services Acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter Status form upon employment.  

  

EMPLOYEE TRAINING RELATED TO CHILD ABUSE AND EDUCATOR ETHICS



Updated: July 2023