Ethics, Equity, and Professional Norms
This domain tests ethical decision-making, equity, and professional conduct. Expect conflicts of interest, confidentiality, bias, resource equity, advocacy, and codes of ethics. Ethical decisions should be documented and defensible if reviewed by a supervisor, board, or court.
Core rules
- Ethics is more than legality: test decisions for fairness, transparency, and impact on the least advantaged.
- Equity means allocating support according to need, not identical treatment.
- Disclose and avoid conflicts; do not use position for private gain.
- Protect confidential student and staff information.
- Examine policies and data for disparate impact; avoid deficit assumptions.
Worked example
Discipline data show Black students receive harsher consequences for similar offenses. The principal audits referrals, reviews subjective infractions, and adds restorative alternatives and staff bias training. She monitors disproportionality monthly.
Reasoning: the leader used evidence, changed systems, and monitored impact rather than blaming students.
Traps
- Confusing equality with equity.
- Colorblind policies that hide disparate impact.
- Treating ethics as only avoiding legal violations.
- Ignoring implicit bias in discipline and hiring.
- Making exceptions for liked staff.
- Using confidentiality to avoid accountability.