Transcript for: “Standards of Ethical Conduct” video. 

Slide 2 

Section 1002.421, Florida Statutes, requires participating private schools to adopt policies that establish 
standards of ethical conduct for teachers and administrators and lays out several specific items that the 
policies must contain. 

Slide 3 

Your school may already have a Code of Conduct or a formal statement of Ethical Standards. To meet 
statutory requirements, however, your school must add any of the required elements that your 
statement lacks. 

Slide 4 

Your school may already require all staff to attend an annual training that covers your Code of Conduct. 
The statute requires that a school’s ethics policy specifically mention a training requirement. 

Slide 5 

Participating private schools’ ethics policies must also contain the duty of school staff to report alleged 
employee or administrator misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, as well as 
the procedures for reporting alleged employee or administrator misconduct. 

Slide 6 

In addition, your school’s policy must point out the laws that provide immunity from liability for those 
who report a teacher or administrator’s misconduct. 

Slide 7 

Notice must be posted at the school site and one the school’s website regarding policies and procedures 
for reporting misconduct. The posting must include a contact person and a statement about the 
penalties for failing to report misconduct. Sample notices are available on the Office of Professional 
Practices Services website. 

Slide 8 

Educator misconduct includes a broad range of inappropriate behavior. Examples include a teacher who 
overtly favors a certain student over others, or an administrator who accepts gifts from students or 
parents in exchange for passing grades. Other examples are a teacher who comes to class under the 
influence of drugs or alcohol, or administrative staff who use demeaning or derogatory language to 
students or other staff members. 

 


Slide 9 

All private schools, not just those who participate in scholarship programs, must post notices about the 
duty to report actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Reporting can be 
done by phone, fax or online. Failure to report actual or suspected cases of abuse is now a felony in 
Florida. 

Slide 10 

For more information on this topic, contact our office at (800) 447-1636 or email us at 
schoolchoice@fldoe.org.