1. 2013 Georgia Professional Standards Commission Annual Certification and Program Officials Conference

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

3. GA PSC Activity – Revocations and Denials
Year Denied Revoked Voluntary Surrender Total FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

12. 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? 12

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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:

17. 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, AN ADDRESS WILL BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE CERTIFICATE.

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

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

23. Thank you for attending the We hope your day was informative!
2013 GaPSC Annual Certification and Program Officials Drive-In Conference.
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