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TITLE 19 EDUCATION
PART 7 STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
CHAPTER 247 EDUCATORS’ CODE OF ETHICS
RULE §247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators

Enforceable Standards.

(1) Professional Ethical Conduct, Practices and Performance.

(A) Standard 1.1. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in deceptive
practices regarding official policies of the school district, educational institution, educator preparation
program, the Texas Education Agency, or the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and its
certification process.

(B) Standard 1.2. The educator shall not knowingly misappropriate, divert, or use monies, personnel,
property, or equipment committed to his or her charge for personal gain or advantage.

(C) Standard 1.3. The educator shall not submit fraudulent requests for reimbursement, expenses, or
pay.

(D) Standard 1.4. The educator shall not use institutional or professional privileges for personal or
partisan advantage.

(E) Standard 1.5. The educator shall neither accept nor offer gratuities, gifts, or favors that impair
professional judgment or to obtain special advantage. This standard shall not restrict the acceptance of
gifts or tokens offered and accepted openly from students, parents of students, or other persons or
organizations in recognition or appreciation of service.

(F) Standard 1.6. The educator shall not falsify records, or direct or coerce others to do so.

(G) Standard 1.7. The educator shall comply with state regulations, written local school board
policies, and other state and federal laws.

(H) Standard 1.8. The educator shall apply for, accept, offer, or assign a position or a responsibility
on the basis of professional qualifications.

(I) Standard 1.9. The educator shall not make threats of violence against school district employees,
school board members, students, or parents of students.

(J) Standard 1.10. The educator shall be of good moral character and be worthy to instruct or
supervise the youth of this state.

(K) Standard 1.11. The educator shall not intentionally or knowingly misrepresent his or her
employment history, criminal history, and/or disciplinary record when applying for subsequent
employment.

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(L) Standard 1.12. The educator shall refrain from the illegal use or distribution of controlled
substances and/or abuse of prescription drugs and toxic inhalants.

(M) Standard 1.13. The educator shall not consume alcoholic beverages on school property or during
school activities when students are present.

(2) Ethical Conduct Toward Professional Colleagues.

(A) Standard 2.1. The educator shall not reveal confidential health or personnel information
concerning colleagues unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law.

(B) Standard 2.2. The educator shall not harm others by knowingly making false statements about a
colleague or the school system.

(C) Standard 2.3. The educator shall adhere to written local school board policies and state and
federal laws regarding the hiring, evaluation, and dismissal of personnel.

(D) Standard 2.4. The educator shall not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political,
professional, or citizenship rights and responsibilities.

(E) Standard 2.5. The educator shall not discriminate against or coerce a colleague on the basis of
race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, family status, or sexual orientation.

(F) Standard 2.6. The educator shall not use coercive means or promise of special treatment in order
to influence professional decisions or colleagues.

(G) Standard 2.7. The educator shall not retaliate against any individual who has filed a complaint
with the SBEC or who provides information for a disciplinary investigation or proceeding under this
chapter.

(3) Ethical Conduct Toward Students.

(A) Standard 3.1. The educator shall not reveal confidential information concerning students unless
disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law.

(B) Standard 3.2. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly treat a student or
minor in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning, physical health, mental health, or
safety of the student or minor.

(C) Standard 3.3. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly misrepresent facts
regarding a student.

(D) Standard 3.4. The educator shall not exclude a student from participation in a program, deny
benefits to a student, or grant an advantage to a student on the basis of race, color, gender, disability,
national origin, religion, family status, or sexual orientation.

(E) Standard 3.5. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in physical
mistreatment, neglect, or abuse of a student or minor.

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(F) Standard 3.6. The educator shall not solicit or engage in sexual conduct or a romantic relationship
with a student or minor.

(G) Standard 3.7. The educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to any person
under 21 years of age unless the educator is a parent or guardian of that child or knowingly allow any
person under 21 years of age unless the educator is a parent or guardian of that child to consume
alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs in the presence of the educator.

(H) Standard 3.8. The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships
and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard.

(I) Standard 3.9. The educator shall refrain from inappropriate communication with a student or
minor, including, but not limited to, electronic communication such as cell phone, text messaging,
email, instant messaging, blogging, or other social network communication. Factors that may be
considered in assessing whether the communication is inappropriate include, but are not limited to:

(i) the nature, purpose, timing, and amount of the communication;

(ii) the subject matter of the communication;

(iii) whether the communication was made openly or the educator attempted to conceal the
communication;

(iv) whether the communication could be reasonably interpreted as soliciting sexual contact or a
romantic relationship;

(v) whether the communication was sexually explicit; and

(vi) whether the communication involved discussion(s) of the physical or sexual attractiveness or
the sexual history, activities, preferences, or fantasies of either the educator or the student.

Source Note: The provisions of this §247.2 adopted to be effective March 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 1022;
amended to be effective August 22, 2002, 27 TexReg 7530; amended to be effective December 26,
2010, 35 TexReg 11242

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