Ky. Certification Board To Rewrite Code of Conduct
The board in Kentucky that certifies teachers is moving to revamp a code of conduct for school employees to prohibit dating, kissing, or sexual intercourse with students.
The Education Professional Standards Board last month approved changes to the code to include specific bans against sexual contact between teachers or school administrators and students.
A women’s advocacy group had approached the board with suggested changes, arguing that the code’s current language was too vague.
In recent years, the state education department has received roughly eight to 10 reports of teacher misconduct a month, many of which alleged inappropriate sexual relations between students and teachers, a state official said.
A state legislative committee must review the board’s changes, which also must be discussed in a public hearing.
Business Leaders Demand Reform
A group of Michigan business leaders involved in education issues has called for tougher state academic standards and expanded professional-development programs for teachers.
“The Michigan educational system is just now developing world-class academic performance standards and is not achieving at a level to prepare our children for the highly competitive world economy,” the Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence says in the report released this month.
The report was prepared in conjunction with the University of Michigan’s school of education.
