Code of Ethics Part Four: Professional Responsibilities

In part four of Code of Ethics, host Chris Kane sits down with Arkansas educators to discuss the topic of professional responsibilities. Because educators are trusted with the safety and quality education of students, certain procedures and licensures are required. Participants in this course will view animated scenarios that illustrate how professional responsibilities, or the lack thereof, can impact students, teachers, and school districts. In addition, participants will hear discussions on the best practices to uphold as a professional educator.

Code of Ethics Part Five: Reporting Obligations

In part five of Code of Ethics, host Chris Kane sits down with Arkansas Educators to discuss the responsibilities of mandatory reporters. Because of the many interactions in a teacher/student dynamic, teachers are one of the first lines of defense in reporting if they see or even hear of something that is a potential danger to a student. Participants in this course will view animated scenarios that communicate the importance being diligent in reporting obligations.

Human Trafficking: Arkansas Code § 6-17-710 - Arkansas Cases

Teachers and other school faculty members are uniquely positioned to recognize when a student may have been exploited and trafficked for something of monetary value, and Arkansas is not immune to this form of modern-day slavery. This course features descriptions of Arkansas trafficking cases as told by Homeland Security Special Agent Jeffrey Pryor and Louise Allison and Casonia Vinson, the director and outreach coordinator for the victim advocacy organization, PATH. An explanation of the reporting guidelines for mandated reporters in Arkansas is also provided.

This course meets the human trafficking professional development requirements of ACA 6-17-710.

Human Trafficking: Arkansas Code § 6-17-710 - Inside Arkansas Schools

Each year, as many as 100,000–300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked for commercial sex in the United States. Many of those potential victims are students in the school system. No community—urban or rural—school, socioeconomic group, or student demographic is immune. This course features video segments of those on the front lines in our schools, much like you and your colleagues, who are playing crucial roles in the lives of students.

This course meets the human trafficking professional development requirements of ACA 6-17-710.

Be the Reason: The Educator's Role in Combating Child Maltreatment

Laws have evolved along with awareness of human rights, including the rights of minors, with increased protections for children and youth from harmful situations. Often children may not be able to put their experiences into words, or may not know they deserve safety and the fulfillment of basic human needs. Children may rely on adults outside the family to stand up for them. This is where educators and school personnel serve a vital role in our society: to watch over and shield our children and youth.

In this course, Sherry Williamson, Child Abuse Project Coordinator at the Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence, shares personal stories and professional insights that compel Arkansas educators and school staff to move beyond the discomfort that comes with facing hard realities. This fully narrated and interactive training features scenarios drawn from real-life experiences. We glean first-hand insights from Arkansas leaders who work to combat crimes against children. Armed with awareness, knowledge, and a sense of higher purpose, Arkansas educators and school personnel can be resolved in in their convictions to “be the reason” children, youth, and families survive and thrive.

This course meets the child maltreatment mandated reporter training requirements of ACA 6-61-133.

Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) - The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018)

The Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators defines the minimum standards of ethical conduct for all educators. The State Board of Education approved the standards on September 1, 2008 and they were last updated at the beginning of the 2018/2019 school year. Arkansas law mandates that everyone with a valid Arkansas teaching license and all educators teaching under an Act 1240 waiver and pre-service teachers are required to abide by the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators. Educational leaders from across the state join Eric R. James from the Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) to explain what it means to be an ethical educator and abide by the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

In this course, Daniel Collier, Technology Projects Coordinator for the Arkansas Department of Education addresses the FERPA basics, explores requirements for the protection of student records for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), explains who may and may not access student records, when those records may be shared, and discusses several of the applicable exceptions to the FERPA requirement for consent.

Professional Licensure Standards Board Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators: Ethical Scenarios in Education (2020)

Arkansas law mandates that everyone with a valid Arkansas teaching license and all educators teaching under an Act 1240 waiver, as well as all pre-service teachers, are required to abide by the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators. In this course, view scenarios based on actual cases that have gone before the Professional Licensure Standards Board ethics subcommittee and learn what standards were violated in each situation, as well as what sanctions were recommended due to the violations.

In this course you will analyze the details of real-life ethics scenarios, determining which standards from the Code of Ethics were violated in each situation.

Bullying: Separating Fact from Fiction

By the end of this course, learners will be able to define the principal elements of bullying and cyberbullying behavior, describe the impact of bullying on the health and well-being of young people, and recognize the role of teachers and educational professionals in bullying prevention. This course also dispels many myths about bullying and focuses on intervention and prevention and what educators can do to help.

This course features Dr. Joseph Wright of Howard University College of Medicine, who led this in-service training on May 24, 2016 at Lonoke High School in Lonoke, AR.

This course meets the anti-bullying training requirements of ACA 6-17-711.

Human Trafficking: Arkansas Code § 6-17-710 - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign

Whether it is through forced labor or sexual exploitation, human trafficking remains an issue in our society. As licensed professionals and other school officials, we are uniquely positioned to recognize when a student may have been exploited by another individual. This course features video segments from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, which uses dramatizations to advocate for a general awareness of human trafficking and its indicators. An explanation of the reporting guidelines for mandated reporters in Arkansas is also provided.

This course meets the human trafficking professional development requirements of ACA 6-17-710.