Iowa Board of Educational ExaminersETHICS AND LICENSURE

Sara Arnold, BOEE and ISEA memberCindy Swanson, ISEA

Christy Hickman, ISEA Attorney

What is the BOEE? The mission of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is to establish and enforce rigorous standards for Iowa educational

practitioners to effectively address the needs of students.

Licensure Changes Ethics Complaints

Iowa Code vs. Iowa Administrative Code

Iowa Code ◦ Permanent laws enacted by the General Assembly

Iowa Administrative Code◦Rules adopted and administered by executive branch

Rule Proposal Updates Special Education The BoEE board has voted to adopt a change to allow the option of a K-12 Special Education endorsement. The proposed change allows all existing special education endorsements to remain, including those held by current teachers. There will not be a requirement for teachers to go back and obtain this new endorsement, but rather it will be available as an option. This Iowa Administrative Code change must be vetted by the Iowa Legislature Administrative Rules Review Committee before being implemented.

Strategist II: ID (MD) endorsement

Federal and State Department of Education defines that only students with severe or significant intellectual disabilities may be assessed under the alternate assessment.

The only licensure available with the BOEE with the authority to teach students with severe intellectual disabilities is the Strategist II ID (MD) endorsement.

BOEE is not able to accept experience in lieu of college/university coursework in adding an endorsement.

Instructional Strategist II Class B Fee Waiver◦ The BoEE has agreed to waive the processing fee for individuals who were teaching

students with significant intellectual disabilities for the 2014-15 school year and will be teaching students with significant intellectual disabilities for the 2015-16 school year under a Class B license.

Rule Proposal Updates

Activities Director Authorization The BoEE board has adopted a rule change to allow candidates with a bachelor’s degree in athletic administration (or a related field) to serve as activities directors upon the completion of additional training specific to ADs.

Substitute Authorizations The BoEE board has adopted a rule change to allow holders of the substitute authorization to serve in grades PK-12 instead of secondary only. Paraeducators who hold the substitute authorization but do not hold a bachelor’s degree are still limited to subbing in their assigned special education classroom only. Substitute authorization holders are limited to no more than 5 days in a row or 10 days in a month for any one assignment (no long term subbing).

Teacher Intern Program

The teacher intern program, designed for second-career adults, is an alternative pathway to becoming a secondary teacher.

The program includes the same education requirements as in a traditional teacher preparation program, but the courses are offered in a concentrated manner by various delivery methods. Once the coursework is completed, candidates may be hired as interns in lieu of going through the traditional student teaching program.

The person may co-teach or substitute teach (including long-term subbing) at the secondary level.

Native Language Teaching Authorization

The Native Language Teaching Authorization was developed in response to a need for more foreign language teachers, especially outside of the traditional French, German, and Spanish languages. If a fully-licensed candidate is not available for a certain language, a district may hire a candidate who has a bachelor’s degree and is a native speaker of that language. In order to receive the authorization, the applicant will need to take and pass Iowa’s mandated test for the language. Once they have passed the test, the district and the applicant may fill out the application for the preliminary native language teacher authorization.

Military Exchange License

A veteran or military spouse who has completed a teacher preparation program through a college, holds a license in another state, and has verified their highly qualified status may receive a three-year military exchange license. This allows the holder to practice for up to three years without having to take additional coursework. This license is meant as a way to remove barriers for military spouses who must re-license and meet new state licensure requirements with every move.

Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics

Standard I. -Conviction of crimes, sexual or other immoral conduct with or toward a student, and child and dependent adult abuse. Standard II. -Alcohol or drug abuse. Standard III. -Misrepresentation, falsification of information. Standard IV. -Misuse of public funds and property. Standard V. -Violations of contractual obligations.

Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics

Standard VI. -Unethical practice toward other members of the profession, parents, students, and the community. Standard VII. -Compliance with state law governing obligations to state or local governments, student loan obligations, child support obligations, and board orders. Standard VIII. -Incompetence

Who can file an ethics complaint?Licensed practitioners Recognized educational entities or local or state professional organizations. Local boards of education. Parents or guardians of students involved in the alleged complaint. Executive Director, Board of Educational Examiners (in certain limited circumstances). The Department of Transportation, if the licensee holds a behind-the-wheel instructor’s certification issued by the department and the complaint relates to an incident or incidents arising during the course of driver’s education instruction. An employee of the Department of Education who, in the course of his or her official duties, becomes aware of an ethical violation.

TWELVE STEP COMPLAINT PROCESS

1. Contact BOEE office and request complaint form 2. Review IAC chapters 11 and 25 sent with complaint form and locate violations of Code of Conduct and Ethics 3. Fill out complaint form and return to BOEE office with supporting documents 4. Complaint received and reviewed by Executive Director for jurisdictional requirements 5. If case is accepted, then investigation conducted 6. Board reviews investigator’s report 7. Board decides to dismiss complaint or moves the complaint forward for a hearing 8. Hearing conducted or settlement reached between respondent and Iowa Attorney General's Office. Any settlement is subject to approval by the board.9. Board considers proposed decision 10. If Board adopts proposed decision and no appeal, this becomes the final decision 11. If there is an appeal made or the Board reviews the proposed decision, briefs are submitted 12. The Board considers the briefs and makes the final decision

Cybertraps for Educators

Julie Amero- ConnecticutCautious computer usage

Ting-Yi Oei- VirginiaInvestigating student concerns

CybertrapsThink carefully about your cyberpast, your cyberpresent and your cyberfuture.

Search for yourself on Google, Bing, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Choose your “friends” carefully (no students) and pay close attention to Privacy Settings

Be a Role Model for Good Online BehaviorBe Professional

I would like remind all licensed educators to be mindful of your local policies on use of school-issued technological devices, and avoid personal use that could lead to a complaint against your license.

How many credits does it take to renew a teaching license?

Initial license: none – you need to gain successful teaching experience to convert to a standard. Credits earned during the initial license cannot be used for future renewals.

Standard license: six

Master educator: four

All need the mandatory reporter certificate for child and dependent adult abuse. This is not a renewal credit.

Renewal credits can be any combination of AEA licensure renewal credits or college credits from regionally accredited institutions.

Credits should be taken during the term of the currently valid license or be no more than five years old.

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