Teacher Certification Section - Professional Educator Conduct
Educators, on whom the development and perpetuation of knowledge depends, must recognize their responsibility to students, to the educational system, to the profession, and to the citizenry. Much attention is given in the media concerning educators and their accountability as it relates to moral character and fitness to teach. The education profession is one of a few that monitors its own members. The PSC is authorized not only to issue and renew educator certificates, but to suspend, revoke, or deny certificates, licenses, and permits, or to issue written reprimand, for good cause after an investigation is held and notice and a hearing are provided to the certificate, license, or permit holder. To view the official PSC rules on Educator Conduct, click here.
The PSC, in collaboration with the Ethics Section, is responsible for taking adverse action against educators’ licenses, and generating appropriate notification to the educational community regarding these actions. Notification of any disciplinary action is made to local Georgia school systems, Georgia colleges and universities, and state certification/licensing agencies through a national clearinghouse.
Professional Practices Commission
The Professional Practices Commission, appointed by the State Board of Education and assigned to the Georgia Department of Education for administrative purposes, is a separate body designed to establish and uphold ethical and professional standards within the teaching profession. The PPC, at the request of the PSC, conducts investigations associated with educators’ standards of conduct. Due process allows an individual under investigation the right to a hearing before a tribunal of PPC Commission members. At the conclusion of the investigation, the PPC makes a recommendation to the PSC as to what action, if any, should be taken against the individual’s certificate or application. The PSC is the authority responsible for taking any final action.
The Code of Ethics, adopted by the PPC, consists of principles intended to serve educators as a guide to ethical conduct. They provide a sound basis for solution of many problems which arise in educators’ relationships with students, with other educators, and with the public. Additional topics include: