2013 Georgia Professional Standards Commission Annual Certification and Program Officials Conference

How the GA PSC Conducts Business John Grant How the GA PSC Conducts Business

GA PSC Activity – Revocations and Denials Year Denied Revoked Voluntary Surrender Total FY 2001 15 58 14 87 FY 2002 20 44 16 80 FY 2003 31 62 21 114 FY 2004 26 57 20 103 FY 2005 25 93 22 140 FY 2006 42 72 17 131 FY 2007 23 76 26 125 FY 2008 33 54 16 103 FY 2009 25 71 27 123 FY 2010 13 67 28 108 FY 2011 18 58 20 96 FY 2012 18 92 25 135 FY 2013 14 86 28 128

Sanctions – 9/12 – 9/13 Legal compliance - 35 Conduct with Students - 80 Alcohol and Drugs - 26 Honesty - 110 Public Funds and Property - 29 Remunerative Conduct - 2 Confidential Information - 4 4

Sanctions Total - 467 Abandonment of Contract - 5 Required Reports - 29 Professional Conduct - 37 Testing - 110 Total - 467 5

GA PSC Process Written and signed complaint received by Ethics Staff – Staff determines Jurisdiction PSC reviews complaint – Decides Investigate, No Probable Cause (NPC) to Investigate or Remand to System NPC to Investigate – Expunged Remand to System – Remains Open Record

Investigate Investigate – Assigned to an Investigator Investigator conducts an independent investigation Investigator prepares a case summary PSC reviews case summary – Sanction or NPC Sanction – Educator accepts or Initiates Due Process rights through appropriate courts

No Probable Cause to Investigate or NPC to Sanction No Probable Cause to Investigate Complaint Complaint is Expunged NPC to Sanction Entire PSC file is expunged

Remand to System PSC expects the system to conduct an investigation and report inappropriate conduct back to the PSC Complaint remains an open record

Schools of Education A general purpose data collection system What is the Traditional Program Management System (TPMS)? A general purpose data collection system A means of granting eligibility to take GACE and other assessments A source of data for multiple purposes

Schools of Education How to Access TPMS? Program providers – authorized account holders go through www.gapsc.org Program participants – claim a TPMS record using account on mypsc.gapsc.org

Schools of Education Remember… TPMS TPMS is the KEY to GACE eligibility TPMS will be used for more than granting GACE eligibility Ethics assessment eligibility edTPA eligibility (perhaps) Pre-service Certificate Recommendation for Certification Need to know more? tpms@gapsc.com 12

Schools of Education There are 47 In-State (Georgia) Institutions There are an unlimited number of out of state institutions After July 14, 2014 all “Student Teachers” will be required to have a Pre-Service Certificate Students will have to take an ethics test that is being developed.

Schools of Education An Institution recommending a student for a Pre-Service certificate will have to attest that the student has completed a Georgia (GCIC) Criminal History (CH) Background Check. Students teaching in GA school systems, but residing in another state – CH check should be done in the state of residence.

Crimes NOT involving moral turpitude: Public drunkenness Driving under the influence Carrying a concealed weapon Unlawful sale of liquor Simple Battery and Simple Assault Misdemeanor criminal trespass Child abandonment Misdemeanor offense of escape Obstruction of a law enforcement officer (Misd.) Possession of less than one ounce of marijuana

Personal Affirmation Applicant’s Name: SSN: Print Last, First Middle Personal Affirmation: The applicant should enter a truthful "Yes" or "No" response to each of the following questions. All questions must have a response in order for the application process to continue. "YES" responses require an attached explanation and any additional supporting documentation. DO NOT include matters that the PSC has investigated or is currently investigating. 1. Have you ever had an adverse action (i.e. warning, reprimand, suspension, revocation, denial, voluntary surrender, disbarment) taken against a professional certificate, license or permit issued by an agency OTHER THAN the Georgia Professional Standards Commission? 2. Are you currently the subject of an investigation involving a violation of a profession’s laws, rules, standards or Code of Ethics by an agency OTHER THAN the Georgia Professional Standards Commission? 3. Have you ever received a less than honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services? (If “yes”, provide a copy of form DD214.) 4. Have you ever left an employment position (retired, resigned, been dismissed, terminated, non-renewed or otherwise) while under investigation? 5. Are you currently the subject of an investigation involving sexual misconduct or physical harm to a child? 6. Are you the subject of a pending investigation involving a criminal act? 7. For any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, have you ever:

Personal Affirmation ♦ Pled guilty; ♦ Entered a plea of nolo contendere; ♦ Been found guilty; ♦ Pled guilty to a lesser offense; ♦ Been granted first offender treatment without adjudication of guilt; ♦ Participated in a pre-trial diversion program; ♦ Been found not guilty by reason of insanity; or ♦ Been placed under a court order whereby an adjudication or sentence was withheld? 8. Have you ever been convicted, or pled to a lesser offense for any sexual offense? 9. Have you been convicted of a drug offense (felony or misdemeanor) after July 1, 2008, while holding any professional certificate, license or permit? I affirm that all information is true and correct. I hereby give permission to the Professional Standards Commission to obtain copies of any criminal and personnel records relating to me which are held by any local, state or federal government agency or private entity. I authorize any such agency or entity to release those records to the Commission. Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________________ NOTE: This application must be completed, signed, dated and received by the PSC within 90 days of the date of completion. NOTE: THE OFFICIAL COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE WILL BE RECEIVED AND AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ONLY BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2010. AN EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE CERTIFICATE.

Moral Turpitude Crimes involving moral turpitude: Fraud or false pretenses in obtaining something of value Larceny or a misdemeanor theft by taking Larceny after trust Murder Soliciting for prostitutes Voluntary manslaughter Sale of narcotics or other illegal drugs Pattern of failure to file federal tax returns Criminal Issuance of a bad check Making a false report of a crime

Reporting (i) Standard 9: Required Reports - An educator shall file reports of a breach of one or more of the standards in the Code of Ethics for Educators, child abuse (O.C.G.A. §19-7-5), or any other required report. Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to: 1. failure to report all requested information on documents required by the Commission when applying for or renewing any certificate with the Commission; 2. failure to make a required report of a violation of one or more standards of the Code of Ethics for educators of which they have personal knowledge as soon as possible but no later than ninety (90) days from the date the educator became aware of an alleged breach unless the law or local procedures require reporting sooner; and 3. failure to make a required report of any violation of state or federal law soon as possible but no later than ninety (90) days from the date the educator became aware of an alleged breach unless the law or local procedures require reporting sooner. These reports include but are not limited to: murder, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, kidnapping, any sexual offense, any sexual exploitation of a minor, any offense involving a controlled substance and any abuse of a child if an educator has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused.

Reporting Must report that a student with a Pre-Service certificate has been dropped from the program regardless of the reason. If a student has been dropped from the program for a violation of the institution’s rules that do not rise to a violation of the Code of Ethics no report to the Ethics Division is required.

Reporting If a student is dropped from a program for a violation of the institution’s Code of Conduct that is also a violation of the Code of Ethics, a report must be made to the PSC Ethics Division.

Reports Georgia Professional Standards Commission Attention Ethics Division 200 Piedmont Avenue, Suite 1702 Atlanta, GA 30334 Dr. Paul Shaw, Director (404) 232-2635 John Grant, Assistant Director, Chief Investigator (404) 232-2626

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