AECTP Professional & Ethical Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher learns that another staff member is in a romantic relationship with a high school student. The teacher should:
- Assume it is consensual and not intervene
- Report it immediately to administration and, if necessary, law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Speak privately with the student to confirm the relationship
- Wait for the student's parents to discover the situation on their own
Correct answer: Report it immediately to administration and, if necessary, law enforcement
A romantic relationship between a staff member and a student is illegal and constitutes abuse; mandatory reporting obligations require immediate action.
Question 2: Which principle is central to the Alabama Educator Code of Ethics regarding the teacher-student relationship?
- Teachers should be a student's closest friend to build rapport
- Teachers must maintain professional boundaries at all times (Correct answer)
- Teachers may share personal struggles to humanize themselves
- Teachers can discuss student performance publicly to motivate peers
Correct answer: Teachers must maintain professional boundaries at all times
The Code of Ethics requires educators to maintain appropriate professional boundaries that protect student wellbeing and teacher integrity.
Question 3: An educator who uses discriminatory language targeting a student based on race is in violation of which federal law?
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Correct answer)
- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Correct answer: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance, including public schools.
Question 4: A teacher receives a gift worth $150 from a parent. According to professional ethics guidelines, the teacher should:
- Accept it graciously as a sign of appreciation
- Decline or report it per school board gift policies, as high-value gifts may create a conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Accept it but donate it to the classroom
- Report it only if the parent requests a favor in return
Correct answer: Decline or report it per school board gift policies, as high-value gifts may create a conflict of interest
Most districts have gift policies limiting acceptable gifts; valuable gifts can create conflicts of interest or the appearance of impropriety.
Question 5: When a student's parent requests to review their child's educational records, Alabama law (consistent with FERPA) requires the school to:
- Provide access within 45 days of the request (Correct answer)
- Deny access if records include third-party information
- Provide access only after a court order
- Provide access within 15 school days for Alabama public schools
Correct answer: Provide access within 45 days of the request
FERPA requires schools to provide parents access to student educational records within 45 days of a formal request.
Question 6: A teacher notices a student appears consistently drowsy, poorly dressed, and without lunch. The most ethically and legally appropriate response is to:
- Do nothing unless the student asks for help
- Report concerns to the school counselor and follow mandated reporting protocols if neglect is suspected (Correct answer)
- Call the parent to shame them into providing better care
- Give the student food from personal supplies and take no further action
Correct answer: Report concerns to the school counselor and follow mandated reporting protocols if neglect is suspected
These signs may indicate neglect, which requires educators to report to child protective services under Alabama's mandatory reporting laws.
Question 7: Which of the following best exemplifies a teacher maintaining professional integrity in grading?
- Raising a student's grade after a parent complains forcefully
- Applying grading criteria consistently and objectively to all students (Correct answer)
- Giving extra credit to students who attend extracurricular events
- Grading more leniently near the end of the semester to avoid parental conflict
Correct answer: Applying grading criteria consistently and objectively to all students
Professional integrity in grading requires consistent, objective application of established criteria free from outside pressure.
AECTP Professional & Ethical Practices 3
A teacher learns that another staff member is in a romantic relationship with a high school student.
The teacher should: