Pennsylvania Code
Title 22 - EDUCATION
Part XIV - Professional Standards and Practices Commission
Chapter 235 - CODE OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND CONDUCT FOR EDUCATORS
Section 235.2 - Introduction

(a) Professional conduct defines interactions between the individual educator and students, the employing agencies and other professionals. Generally, the responsibility for professional conduct rests with the individual educator. However, in this Commonwealth, the Professional Standards and Practices Commission (PSPC) is charged with the duty to adopt and maintain a code for professional practice and conduct that shall be applicable to any educator. See section 5(a)(10) of the Educator Discipline Act (act) (24 P.S. § 2070.5(a)(10)).

(b) In recognition of the magnitude of the responsibility inherent in the education process and by virtue of the desire to maintain the respect and confidence of their colleagues, students, parents and the community, educators shall be guided in their conduct by their commitment to their students, colleagues and profession.

(c) Violations of any of the duties prescribed by this chapter may be used as supporting evidence in disciplinary proceedings conducted by or on behalf of the PSPC under the act. Violations of this chapter may also be an independent basis for a public or private reprimand. Discipline for conduct that constitutes both a basis for discipline under the act and an independent basis for discipline under this chapter shall not be limited to a public or private reprimand. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to otherwise limit the Department of Education's authority to initiate an action under the act to suspend, revoke or otherwise discipline an educator's certificate or employment eligibility, or both.

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or interpreted to require an educator to violate any of the doctrines, tenets, policies, or practices of any religious or religiously-affiliated school in which that educator is employed.