Professionalism and Ethics
Professionalism and Ethics (GTET 2) tests legal and ethical obligations: confidentiality, mandated reporting, boundaries, and equitable treatment. Items often present a dilemma with a tempting but improper response.
Core rules
- Student education records are confidential under FERPA; share only with staff who have a legitimate educational interest.
- Suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported to the designated authority. Do not investigate first, and do not promise secrecy.
- Maintain professional boundaries in messaging, social media, and private meetings; keep doors open and interactions visible.
- Academic integrity: teach citation, design assessments that reduce cheating, and apply consequences consistently.
- Copyright: classroom fair use is limited; do not copy consumables or post copyrighted material publicly.
Worked example
A colleague posts a photo of an IEP goal sheet in a staff group chat. The correct response is to ask them to delete it and notify an administrator; do not forward it or discuss the details. Reasoning: the IEP is an education record, and a group chat is not a need-to-know setting. Even well-intentioned sharing violates confidentiality and undermines trust with the family.
Traps that cost marks
- Promising a student you will keep an abuse disclosure secret.
- Discussing students in the staff room, online, or with friends.
- Assuming fair use permits copying any instructional material.
- Accepting gifts or favors that create obligations.
- Treating an ethical dilemma as only a matter of personal preference.