ATC Texas School Law and Professional Ethics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Texas code contains the primary laws governing public school educators' conduct and responsibilities?
- Texas Education Code (TEC) (Correct answer)
- Texas Penal Code
- Texas Family Code
- Texas Administrative Code Title 19
Correct answer: Texas Education Code (TEC)
The Texas Education Code is the primary statutory authority governing public education in Texas, including educator rights, responsibilities, and student discipline.
Question 2: What is the Texas Educator Code of Ethics?
- A set of professional standards adopted by SBEC governing ethical conduct of Texas educators (Correct answer)
- A district-level policy manual for teacher behavior
- A federal mandate for all U.S. teachers
- An optional guideline published by professional teacher unions
Correct answer: A set of professional standards adopted by SBEC governing ethical conduct of Texas educators
The Texas Educator Code of Ethics, adopted by SBEC in 19 TAC §247.2, establishes binding ethical standards regarding professional relationships with students, colleagues, and the community.
Question 3: Under Texas law, what must an educator do upon witnessing or having reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect?
- Report it immediately to law enforcement or Child Protective Services (CPS) (Correct answer)
- Report it to the campus principal who will decide whether to call CPS
- Document the concern and report at the end of the school day
- Only report if the student gives written permission
Correct answer: Report it immediately to law enforcement or Child Protective Services (CPS)
Texas Family Code §261.101 makes educators mandatory reporters who must immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect to CPS or law enforcement, with no requirement to notify the principal first.
Question 4: What does FERPA protect in the context of Texas public schools?
- The privacy of student education records (Correct answer)
- Teachers' personal employment files
- School board meeting minutes
- State assessment answer keys
Correct answer: The privacy of student education records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the confidentiality of student educational records and grants parents and eligible students rights to access and amend those records.
Question 5: Which Texas law prohibits inappropriate educator-student relationships and requires reporting of suspected abuse by school staff?
- Texas Education Code §21.12 and §38.004 (Correct answer)
- Texas Administrative Code §149.1
- Texas Government Code §552
- Texas Labor Code §21.051
Correct answer: Texas Education Code §21.12 and §38.004
TEC §21.12 criminalizes inappropriate relationships between educators and students, and §38.004 establishes the school-based child abuse reporting policy.
Question 6: What is the consequence for a Texas educator who fails to report known or suspected child abuse?
- A criminal misdemeanor offense and potential loss of teaching certificate (Correct answer)
- A verbal warning from the principal
- Reassignment to a different campus
- A fine payable to the district
Correct answer: A criminal misdemeanor offense and potential loss of teaching certificate
Failure to report child abuse by a Texas mandatory reporter is a Class A misdemeanor, and conviction can also trigger SBEC disciplinary action including certificate revocation.
ATC Texas School Law and Professional Ethics 1
Which Texas code contains the primary laws governing public school educators' conduct and responsibilities?