Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Educator Ethics

Conducting Effective Testing Investigations

Review your local policies to assure that they are in compliance with the law, DOE Rules and the Code

of Ethics for Georgia Educators.

Follow local policies and procedures in

investigating alleged misconduct.

To obtain as much information as possible to fully

understand an event.

Investigation Goal

• Determine whether the conduct described is a violation of procedure or cheating.

Complaint

Most procedure issues can be handled at the local level – Cheating must be reported to the PSC.

Different accounts of what happened do not necessarily

mean the person being questioned is being dishonest.

You remember what you see and you remember what you

perceived.

• School Test Coordinator

Who should be notified?

• Principal

• System Test Coordinator

• Superintendent

• DOE

Remain objective!

If you cannot remain objective, assign someone else to do the

investigation!

Immediate Actions Required

• Secure Physical Evidence (Check the Trash Can and Personal Space of the Teacher)

• Document What Happened (What did you find; Where did you find it?)

Documenting the Incident• Incident Type• Location of Incident • Date/Time of Incident

• Reported By• Report Received By

• Participants• Witnesses• What Happened?• Evidence Collected

Incident Type (Theft, Assault, Alcohol, etc.)

Date/Time of Incident Date/Time Reported Reported To Investigator

Participants (Name, Home/Work Addresses, Contact Information)

Perpetrator(s): Victim(s):

Description of the incident (What Happened?)

List of Evidence Collected

Reported to DispositionDFCS? Yes NoLaw Enforcement? Yes NoPSC? Yes No

Certification Information (Name, Certificate #, Position held)

Incident Report

Complainant (Name, Home/Work Addresses, Contact Information)

Witnesses (Name, Home/Work Addresses, Contact Information - Use back of sheet if additional space is needed)

Location of IncidentDocument the Incident

Decide what information you will need and create a report format to assist you in documenting the investigation. It is easy to forget something if you don’t have a good report form.

This form is available at www.GAPSC.org. for download and use. Contact your HR Director if you want a copy.

NotesTest Documents

Answer DocumentsCopies

Cell PhonesErasures

Anything that may have comprised the test

Collect Evidence

Document What Happened

Identify Witnesses (Students & Adults) Take Pictures

Record Dates and TimesCite What Procedure(s) was Violated

Verify that Training was ProvidedIdentify the Test (CRCT, EOCT, ITBS, etc.)

Note Teacher’s ReactionNote what Action You took

Plan the Investigation

What is the allegation?

Who will investigate?

What facts are needed?

Plan the Investigation

What documentation is available?

What evidence needs to be collected?

Plan the Investigation Who should be interviewed?

(Examiners, Proctors, Test Takers, Test Coordinators, Administrators, Anyone else that had access or responsibility for the test.)

What information is expected from each witness?

Plan the Investigation

What other agencies should be involved - DOE?

What independent actions should the school system take immediately?

Interviewing

• Use a Private Location.• Record the Interview. • Interview Everyone Individually.

• Interview the Witnesses First.

• Don’t Interrupt.• Allow Time to Respond.• Don’t Promise Anything.• Don’t Voice Opinions.• Don’t Be Accusatory• Use Reflective Listening• Thank the Person Interviewed

General Hints About Interviewing

Control the environment.

Establish Rapport

Silence is Okay

Interview

Avoid Leading Questions Do you remember X?

Avoid Yes or No Questions.

Avoid Negative Wording You don’t remember X, do you?

Ask: Tell me what you remember.

Rephrase and repeat : “Is there any other information that you can remember that would be helpful in determining what

happened?”

Interviewing the Accused

When interviewing the accused educator:

• Inform her/him of the allegations.• Be open, concerned and non-

judgmental. • Gather facts and do not make

judgments.• Ask for the educator’s account of the

situation.• Ask if there are other witnesses you

should contact.

Questioning Children

• Avoid questions with Yes or No answers.

• If you don’t understand what they’re trying to tell you, ask them to re-state what they said in different words.

• Allow the child to move around, fiddle or whatever - it allows the child feel they have some control.

• Listen and observe nonverbal expressions.

• Written expressions are more effective with adolescents.

$ Observe the body language of the person being interviewed.

$ Be aware of your body language (tone of voice, gestures and facial expressions.)

During the Interview

1. Document what you observed 2. Transcribe your Tape and Notes 3. Have the Transcript Signed 4. Obtain a Written Statement 5. Keep Notes in a Separate File 6. Complete the Record

After the Interview

Report Unethical Conduct to the

Professional Standards Commission.

Employment Issues involving competence,

insubordination, medical problems,

physical health, emotional or mental health,

and local policy should be handled at the local level.

Professional Standards Commission

Ethics Division

Contact Information

Gary Walker, Director

John Grant, Chief Investigator

@GAPSC.com

404-232-2700