Model Code of Ethics for Educators Released This Summer

Over the past 12 months, a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC ) task force, comprised of a diverse group of teachers, principals, superintendents (including Craig Menozzi, former Southeast Polk superintendent), paraprofessionals and state department officials, has developed the first Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE). 

The MCEE was launched on June 25, 2015, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. It should be noted that the members of the task force are all working educators who were nominated by national stakeholder groups; therefore, this is a document that has been developed, vetted and endorsed by those in the profession.

The purpose of the MCEE is to serve as a shared ethical guide for future and current educators who are faced with the complexities of PK-12 education. The code establishes principles for ethical best practice, mindfulness, self-reflection, and decision-making, setting the groundwork for self-regulation and self-accountability. There are five principles, which broadly define critical dimensions of ethical practice expected of the professional educator, each followed by performance indicators that more specifically define aspects within each principle. You can read more about the MCEE at the links below.

Rationale for the MCEE
Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE) Documents

The MCEE will remain as a living document that will adapt and respond to emerging issues in the education profession by maintaining resources that support continuous public comment and review. Toward this objective, the NASDTEC Executive Board established the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics (NCAEE) at its June 2015 meeting to further the intentional focus on ethics across the profession and establish an ongoing group to administer the code. This critical work will lead to an increased emphasis on ethical preparation at national, state and local levels.

You can review and consider possible uses for this historic document in your work. NASDTEC is making no attempt to press organizations to adopt the document as a whole, and its purpose is not to supplant current state and provider codes currently in use. Rather, the MCEE should be seen as a guide and a tool for your organization as it considers how to assist current and future educators in dealing with an area which grows more murky and complex on a daily basis.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.