CEP Professional Standards & Ethics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a team meeting, a paraprofessional is asked to share observations about a student's progress. The paraprofessional should:
- Decline, since sharing observations is not their role
- Provide objective, factual observations based on direct experience with the student (Correct answer)
- Share only positive observations to avoid upsetting the team
- Offer a formal diagnosis based on what they have observed
Correct answer: Provide objective, factual observations based on direct experience with the student
Paraprofessionals contribute valuable observational data to the team, but must remain objective and factual without overstepping into diagnostic roles.
Question 2: A paraprofessional is instructed by a supervising teacher to use a specific strategy with a student, but believes a different strategy would work better. The paraprofessional should:
- Use the preferred strategy without telling the teacher
- Follow the teacher's instruction and share their perspective professionally after the lesson (Correct answer)
- Alternate between both strategies to test which works better
- Refuse to implement the strategy and escalate to administration
Correct answer: Follow the teacher's instruction and share their perspective professionally after the lesson
Paraprofessionals follow the teacher's instructional lead and share professional input through appropriate dialogue, not unilateral changes.
Question 3: Which of the following best illustrates the ethical principle of 'non-maleficence' for a paraprofessional?
- Always advocating loudly for students in public settings
- Avoiding actions that could physically or emotionally harm a student (Correct answer)
- Providing students with honest feedback even if it is discouraging
- Reporting all student behaviors to parents immediately
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that could physically or emotionally harm a student
Non-maleficence means 'do no harm'—paraprofessionals must ensure their actions and words do not injure students physically or emotionally.
Question 4: A paraprofessional who witnesses suspected child abuse by a family member is required by law to:
- Investigate the abuse themselves before reporting
- Report the suspicion to the appropriate authority as a mandated reporter (Correct answer)
- Wait for the supervising teacher to notice before taking any action
- Confront the family member directly about the concern
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to the appropriate authority as a mandated reporter
In most U.S. states, school paraprofessionals are mandated reporters and legally required to report suspected child abuse to child protective services or law enforcement.
Question 5: A paraprofessional uses social media to post a photo from a class activity that includes identifiable students. This action:
- Is acceptable if the photo was taken in a public school setting
- Violates student privacy rights and school social media policies (Correct answer)
- Is acceptable if parents are tagged and can remove their child's image
- Is only a concern if the post receives public negative comments
Correct answer: Violates student privacy rights and school social media policies
Posting identifiable images of students on social media violates FERPA and most school social media policies without explicit consent.
Question 6: Which scenario best demonstrates a paraprofessional maintaining appropriate professional communication?
- Texting a student directly to check on homework completion
- Emailing the supervising teacher with a concern about a student's behavior log (Correct answer)
- Posting about a frustrating student interaction anonymously online
- Calling a student's home to express personal opinions about classroom policies
Correct answer: Emailing the supervising teacher with a concern about a student's behavior log
Professional communication channels, such as email to the supervising teacher, maintain appropriate boundaries and documentation standards.
Question 7: A student with an IEP refuses to use a mandated assistive technology device in class. The paraprofessional should:
- Allow the student to skip it since forcing compliance is coercive
- Encourage use of the device and report the refusal to the supervising teacher (Correct answer)
- Remove the device from the student's workspace permanently
- Modify the IEP requirement independently to reduce conflict
Correct answer: Encourage use of the device and report the refusal to the supervising teacher
The paraprofessional should gently encourage IEP compliance and report refusals to the teacher, who can involve the IEP team if needed.
CEP Professional Standards & Ethics 5
During a team meeting, a paraprofessional is asked to share observations about a student's progress.
The paraprofessional should: