Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.30 - Referral to Educator Ethics Division

(1) Purpose. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) Educator Ethics Division is responsible for administering the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators. This code defines the professional behavior of educators and serves as a guide to standards and ethical conduct generally accepted by the educational profession.

(2) Procedures.

(a) During the certificate application process, the Certification Division refers all legal and ethical questions or concerns to the Educator Ethics Division. When an application for initial certification is referred, all processing of that individual's application is discontinued until a final decision is made by the GaPSC. Notification of the case's referral is sent to the applicant at the time it is referred.

(b) Georgia educators holding valid or expired certificates or licenses have property rights and processing of their applications is not discontinued while a final decision is made by the GaPSC.

(3) Disciplinary Action. If a referral and the subsequent investigation lead to disciplinary action by the GaPSC, the following types of discipline may occur: revocation; denial; suspension; reprimand; warning; or monitoring. In addition, following due process procedures, the results of all disciplinary actions are submitted to the National Clearinghouse, a centralized database of disciplinary actions taken against educator certificate holders by all fifty (50) states and Washington, D.C. The Clearinghouse is operated by the National Associate of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and all states may access this database during their state certificate application process.

(4) Resources. Additional information on the GaPSC Educator Ethics Division, the Code of Ethics for Educators and the investigative process is posted on the GaPSC web site at www.gapsc.com.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.30

O.C.G.A. 20-2-200.

Original Rule entitled "Non-Renewable Non-Professional Certificate" adopted. F. Apr. 20, 2009; eff. May 15, 2009, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 7, 2010; eff. July 15, 2010, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Referral to Educator Ethics Division" adopted. F. Jun. 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency.