CSET Professional Standards & Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher discovers a student has plagiarized an essay. According to professional ethics, what is the MOST appropriate first step?
- Contact the student's parents immediately
- Report the incident to the principal without speaking to the student
- Speak privately with the student to discuss the situation and consequences (Correct answer)
- Ignore it if the student is otherwise performing well
Correct answer: Speak privately with the student to discuss the situation and consequences
Ethical practice requires addressing the issue directly with the student first to ensure due process before escalating.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes a teacher's obligation regarding mandatory reporting under California law?
- Teachers may delegate reporting duties to the principal
- Teachers must report suspected child abuse to law enforcement or child protective services (Correct answer)
- Teachers only report abuse if they have physical evidence
- Teachers report only after consulting with a union representative
Correct answer: Teachers must report suspected child abuse to law enforcement or child protective services
California law designates teachers as mandated reporters who must personally report suspected child abuse to authorities.
Question 3: A colleague asks you to share confidential student records to help plan a class party. What should you do?
- Share the records since the purpose is student-centered
- Decline because FERPA protects student records from unauthorized disclosure (Correct answer)
- Ask the student's permission first, then share
- Share only directory information
Correct answer: Decline because FERPA protects student records from unauthorized disclosure
FERPA prohibits sharing student records for purposes unrelated to legitimate educational interests.
Question 4: Which professional behavior best demonstrates adherence to the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP)?
- Focusing exclusively on test preparation to raise scores
- Engaging in ongoing professional learning to improve practice (Correct answer)
- Limiting parent communication to report card periods
- Following only district-mandated professional development
Correct answer: Engaging in ongoing professional learning to improve practice
The CSTP explicitly calls for teachers to pursue continuous professional growth beyond mandated requirements.
Question 5: A student discloses abuse during a private conversation and begs the teacher to keep it secret. The teacher should:
- Honor the student's request to maintain trust
- Report the abuse and inform the student that reporting is legally required (Correct answer)
- Consult with the counselor without making an official report
- Wait to see if additional disclosures occur before reporting
Correct answer: Report the abuse and inform the student that reporting is legally required
A teacher's mandatory reporting obligation supersedes confidentiality promises and must be fulfilled regardless of the student's request.
Question 6: A teacher posts photos of students on a personal social media account without parental consent. This action primarily violates:
- The California Education Code regarding homework policy
- Student privacy rights under FERPA and district social media policies (Correct answer)
- The teacher's union contract
- California's anti-bullying statutes
Correct answer: Student privacy rights under FERPA and district social media policies
Posting student images without consent violates FERPA privacy rights and typical district social media policies.
Question 7: Which scenario represents a conflict of interest that a teacher must disclose or avoid?
- Recommending a textbook the teacher helped author without disclosure (Correct answer)
- Using district-approved curriculum materials
- Assigning homework on weekends
- Participating in a school fundraiser
Correct answer: Recommending a textbook the teacher helped author without disclosure
Recommending materials from which a teacher financially benefits without disclosure is a conflict of interest violating professional ethics.
CSET Professional Standards & Ethics 2
A teacher discovers a student has plagiarized an essay.
According to professional ethics, what is the MOST appropriate first step?