The County Superintendent expects LACOE employees to maintain the highest ethical standards, exhibit behave professionally, follow LACOE policies and regulations, abide by state and federal laws, and exercise good judgment when interacting with students and other members of the school community. Employees shall engage in conduct that enhances the integrity of LACOE, advances the goals of LACOE's programs, and contributes to a positive school climate. Each employee is expected to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill his/her responsibilities and to contribute to the learning and achievement of LACOE students.
(cf. 0200 - Goals for LACOE)
(cf. 4112.2 - Certification)
(cf. 4119.1/4219.1/4319.1 - Civil and Legal Rights)
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
The County Superintendent encourages LACOE employees to accept as guiding principles the professional standards and codes of ethics adopted by educational or professional associations to which they may belong.
(cf. 2111 - Superintendent Governance Standards)
(cf. 9005 - Governance Standards)
Staff Conduct with Students
The County Superintendent expects all employees to exercise good judgment and maintain professional standards and boundaries when interacting with students both on and off school property. Inappropriate employee conduct shall include, but not be limited to, engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior; engaging in inappropriate socialization or fraternization with a student; soliciting, encouraging, or establishing an inappropriate written, verbal, or physical relationship with a student; furnishing tobacco, alcohol, or other illegal or unauthorized substances to a student; or engaging in child abuse.
Each employee should make a commitment to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill his/her responsibilities and should focus on his/her contribution to the learning and achievement of LACOE students.
(cf. 4112.2 - Certification)
(cf. 4131/4231/4331 - Staff Development)
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in LACOE Programs and Activities)
(cf. 4040 - Employee Use of Technology)
(cf. 5131 - Conduct)
(cf. 6163.4 - Student Use of Technology)
Inappropriate Conduct
Inappropriate employee conduct includes, but is not limited to:
1. Engaging in any conduct that endangers students, staff, or others, including, but not limited to, physical violence, or threats of violence.
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 4158/4258/4358 - Employee Security)
2. Possession of a firearm or other weapon in the workplace (including grounds and buildings) is prohibited. A dangerous weapon is defined as knives (unless such a knife is required to perform one's job), explosive materials, toxic agents, or any other weapon or device intended to be used, or which may be used, as a tool of violence (e.g., chains, brass knuckles, baseball bats, tire irons [unless a baseball bat, chain, or tire iron is required to perform one's job]). Anyone who knowingly possesses, or causes to be present in the workplace or on the premises, a firearm or other dangerous weapon, is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. It is the responsibility of every management employee to ensure the work environment is free of firearms or other dangerous weapons, except for authorized personnel. Any employee who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, the presence of a dangerous weapon in the workplace is responsible for reporting such knowledge or suspicion to their immediate supervisor or division direct and to the Security Services Manager.
3. Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior towards students, parents/guardians, staff, or community members, or failing or refusing to intervene when an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying against a student is observed.
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in LACOE Programs and Activities)
(cf. 4119.11/4219.11/4319.11 - Sexual Harassment)
(cf. 5131.2 - Bullying)
(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)
(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)
4. Physically abusing, sexually abusing, neglecting, or otherwise willfully harming or injuring a child.
5. Engaging in inappropriate socialization or fraternization with a student or soliciting, encouraging, or maintaining an inappropriate written, verbal, or physical relationship with a student.
6. Possessing or viewing any pornography on school grounds, or possessing or viewing child pornography or other imagery portraying children in a sexualized manner at any time.
7. Using profane, obscene, or abusive language against students, parents/guardians, staff, or community members.
8. Willfully disrupting LACOE or school operations by loud or unreasonable noise or other action.
9. Using tobacco, alcohol, or an illegal or authorized substance, or possessing or distributing any controlled substance, while in the workplace, on LACOE property, or at a school-sponsored activity.
(cf. 3513.3 - Tobacco-Free Schools)
(cf. 4020 - Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace)
(cf. 4112.41/4212.41/4312.41 - Employee Drug Testing)
(cf. 4112.42/4212.42/4312.42 - Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers)
10. Being dishonest with students, parents/guardians, staff, or members of the public, including, but not limited to, falsifying information in employment records or other school records.
11. Divulging confidential information about students, LACOE employees, or LACOE operations to persons or entities not authorized to receive the information.
(cf. 3580 - LACOE Records)
(cf. 4119.23/4219.23/4319.23 - Unauthorized Release of Confidential/Privileged Information)
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
(cf. 5125.1 - Release of Directory Information)
12. Using LACOE equipment or other LACOE resources for the employee's own commercial purposes or for political activities.
(cf. 4119.25/4219.25/4319.25 - Political Activities of Employees)
13. Using LACOE equipment or communications devices for personal purposes while on duty, except in an emergency, during scheduled work breaks, or for personal necessity.
Employees shall be notified that computer files and all electronic communications, including, but not limited to, email and voice mail, are not private. To ensure proper use, the County Superintendent or designee may monitor employee usage of LACOE technological resources at any time without the employee's consent.
(cf. 4040 - Employee Use of Technology)
14. Causing damage to or engaging in theft or property belonging to students, staff, or LACOE.
15. Wearing inappropriate attire.
(cf. 4119.22/4219.22/4319.22 - Dress and Grooming)
An employee who observes or has evidence of inappropriate conduct between another employee and a student shall immediately report such conduct to the principal or County Superintendent or designee. An employee who has knowledge of or suspects child abuse shall file a report pursuant to LACOE's child abuse reporting procedures as detailed in AR 5141.4 - Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting.
(cf. 5141.4 - Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting)
(cf. 4118 - Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
Any reports of employee misconduct shall be promptly investigated. Any employee who is found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct in violation of law or Board policy shall be subject to disciplinary action and, in the case of a certificated employee, may be subject to a report to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The County Superintendent or designee shall notify local law enforcement as appropriate.
(cf. 4117.4 - Dismissal)
(cf. 4117.7 - Employment Status Reports)
(cf. 4118 - Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
An employee who has knowledge of but fails to report inappropriate employee conduct may also be subject to discipline.
LACOE prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a complaint against an employee or reports an employee's inappropriate conduct. Any employee who retaliates against any such complainant, reporter, or other participant in LACOE's complaint process shall be subject to discipline.
Notifications
The sections of LACOE's employee code of conduct addressing interactions with students shall be provided to parents/guardians at the beginning of each school year and shall be posted on school and/or LACOE web sites and in the Annual Notification. (Education Code 44050)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
44242.5 Reports and review of alleged misconduct
PENAL CODE
11164-11174.4 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
80303 Reports of dismissal, resignation and other terminations for alleged misconduct
80331-80338 Rules of conduct for professional educators
Management Resources:
COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING PUBLICATIONS
California Standards for the Teaching Profession, 2009
COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS PUBLICATIONS
Educational Leadership Policy Standards: ISLLC 2008, 2008
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Code of Ethics of the Education Profession, 1975
WESTED PUBLICATIONS
Moving Leadership Standards into Everyday Work: Descriptions of Practice, 2003
WESTED AND ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PUBLICATIONS
California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, 2001
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
Association of California School Administrators: http://www.acsa.org
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
California Federation of Teachers: http://www.cft.org
California School Employees Association: http://www.csea.com
California Teachers Association: http://www.cta.org
Commission on Teacher Credentialing: http://www.ctc.ca.gov
Council of Chief State School Officers: http://www.ccsso.org
WestEd: http://www.WestEd.org
Policy LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
adopted: March 16, 2018 Downey, California