Governance, Ethics and Case Studies

Robert C. McCrackenrmccracke@radford.edu

www.radford.edu/~rmccracke

Overview

• Governance• National Perspective• State Regulation• Local Organization and Governance

• Ethics• State Law• Local Policy• Legal Protection

• Case Studies

Checking for Knowledge

• You are fully (liability) protected as a teacher in Virginia Schools

• FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws don’t pertain to discussions about students between teachers

• It’s acceptable under certain conditions to share information with parents about another child in your class

• A principal can interpret and modify school board policy

Checking for Knowledge

• Federal government programs in schools are optional

• School Board members are all elected in Virginia

• It’s ok to have a criminal record when you apply for a teaching job in Virginia

• Once you receive tenure, you must violate the law to lose your job

Governance

• National Perspective• Constitutional Definition• Federal Funding Issues• Example: Goals 2000• Relationship to NCLB• Special Education Issues; Virginia’s

Discipline Case

Governance

• State Governance• Virginia Law 22.1• Virginia Board of Education Regula

tions• Standards of Quality• Standards of Accreditation• State Superintendent’s

Memorandum

Governance

• Local Organization and Governance• Local Board of Supervisors / City

Councils• Selection/Election of School Board

Members• Local School Board Policy• Local School Board Regulations• Local Superintendent’s Directives

Ethics

• What is your definition of ethics?• Perceptions• Find the “line”• Legal Expectations• Community Expectations

Ethics

• Reporting Issues• Child Abuse• Sexual Abuse / Relationships• Faculty Issues• Privacy – NOT!

Case Studies

• Tobacco Cases• Alcohol Cases• Drug Cases• What If’s?