Ethics Training and Reporting

As a school that participates in the Florida Department of Education School Choice Scholarship program, and pursuant to the requirements set forth in the 2008 Ethics in Education Act, please be advised that Panama City Advanced School operates under the folllowing guideleine and laws.

Standards of Ethical Conduct

1. Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential. Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.

3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

• Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
• Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
• Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
• Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program.
• Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
• Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.
• Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
• Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
• Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

• Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
• Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization.
• Shall not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
• Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual's performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
• Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

Employment Screening

1. Participating private schools must disquaify from employment any instructional personnel or school administrator who is convicted of an act listed under Section 1012.315, Florida Statues.

2. Participating private schools must conduct an employment history check before employing instructional personnel or school administrators in any position that require direct contact with students.

3. Participating private schools must screen new instructional personnel or school administrators using two employee screening tools developed by the Department of Education, new instructional personnel or school administrators are those individuals employed after the law became effective on July 1, 2008.

All Panama City Advanced School administrators, teachers, and staff members have been fully screened and background checked pursuant to state law.

Training Requirement: ALL instructional personnel, educational support employees, and administrators are required as a condidtion of employment to complete training on these standards of ehtical conduct.

 Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators  

1. All employees, educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators, which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors. 

2. Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to Rashid Karaman, Director at rkaraman@pcasfl.org (Administration Misconduct) or Fauzia Ikram, Principal at fikram@pcafl.org (Employee Misconduct). 

3. Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported to the Office of Professional Practices Services. 

4. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted on bulletin boards in Teachers' Lounge, Cafeteria, and Student Common Areas and on our Web site at  Ethics in Education | Panama City Advanced School (pcasfl.org).

5. Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect All employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Call 1-800- 96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

Signs of Physical Abuse

The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries. 

Signs of Sexual Abuse

The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively,

fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy away from physical contact, or run away from home.

Signs of Neglect

 The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

Patterns of Abuse

Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.

ALL Panama City Advanced School employees have been trained to recognize signs of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect, and have been advised as to their status as mandatory reporters.

Liability Protections 

Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 39.203)

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)