7.1 Florida Code of Ethics & Rule 6A-10.081 Conduct Principles

Florida Code of Ethics & Rule 6A-10.081 Conduct Principles

In the State of Florida, holding an educator certificate is a privilege that carries profound legal and ethical responsibilities. Under Competency 6 of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Professional Education Test (083)—which represents 9% of the total examination—prospective and practicing educators must demonstrate rigorous mastery of the statutory standards, administrative rules, and ethical boundaries that govern professional practice.

The ethical framework for Florida educators is codified in State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.081, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), titled Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida, supported by Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 (Personnel). These rules establish enforceable behavioral standards across every aspect of an educator's career, from instructional delivery and classroom safety to financial integrity, social media conduct, and peer relationships.

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1. The Three Core Obligations under Rule 6A-10.081, F.A.C.

Rule 6A-10.081 has two parts. Subsection (1) states the Code of Ethics — the broad ethical principles that guide Florida educators. Subsection (2) states the enforceable disciplinary principles, organized into three areas of obligation: (2)(a) Obligation to the Student, (2)(b) Obligation to the Public, and (2)(c) Obligation to the Profession of Education. Rule 6A-10.081(2) provides that violating any of these principles subjects the educator to revocation or suspension of the certificate, or to the other penalties provided by law. The current version of the rule took effect October 28, 2025.

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|                   FLORIDA'S THREE CORE ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS (RULE 6A-10.081)             |
|                                                                                         |
|   [1. OBLIGATION TO THE STUDENT]                                                        |
|   • Protect health, safety, and physical/emotional well-being of all learners.          |
|   • Ensure equal access to educational programs without unlawful discrimination.        |
|   • Refrain from suppressing subject matter, distorting facts, or embarrassing students.|
|   • Maintain strict, professional educator-student interpersonal and digital boundaries.|
|                                                                                         |
|   [2. OBLIGATION TO THE PUBLIC]                                                         |
|   • Distinguish personal political/philosophical views from official school board policy|
|   • Prohibit exploitation of school facilities, resources, or position for private gain.|
|   • Refuse gifts, favors, or gratuities intended to influence professional decisions.   |
|                                                                                         |
|   [3. OBLIGATION TO THE PROFESSION]                                                     |
|   • Maintain absolute honesty in certification applications and employment credentials. |
|   • Report known peer educator misconduct endangering student safety or morals.        |
|   • Self-report qualifying arrests and criminal dispositions within 48 hours            |
|     (Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c)13., F.A.C.).                                                  |
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Principle 1: Obligation to the Student

The educator's primary ethical commitment is to the intellectual, physical, and emotional development of the student. Under Rule 6A-10.081(2)(a), F.A.C. (Obligation to the Student), Florida educators must:

1. Protect Physical and Emotional Well-Being: Make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning, mental health, physical health, and safety.
2. Avoid Unreasonable Restraint of Independent Action: Not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning, nor unreasonably deny access to diverse academic viewpoints.
3. Prohibit Intentional Suppression or Distortion of Subject Matter: Not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program, presenting curricular content objectively and aligned to state standards.
4. Protect Confidential Student Information: Protect personal and confidential information gained in the course of professional service, disclosing it only when required by law or to serve professional educational purposes.
5. Prohibit Intentional Embarrassment and Harassment: Not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment, disparagement, ridicule, or harassment.
6. Ensure Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity: 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, nor grant discriminatory advantages or deny benefits.
7. Maintain Strictly Professional Boundaries: Never exploit a relationship with a student for personal, financial, or romantic gain, and strictly avoid romantic, sexual, or inappropriately familiar relationships with current students (regardless of whether the student is above the legal age of consent).

Principle 2: Obligation to the Public

Educators occupy a position of public trust. Under Rule 6A-10.081(2)(b), F.A.C. (Obligation to the Public), Florida educators must preserve community confidence by adhering to the following rules:

1. Distinguishing Personal Opinion from Official Policy: Clearly distinguish between personal political, religious, or ideological views and official policies or positions of the school district or school board.
2. Prohibiting Exploitation of Public Resources: Never use institutional privileges, school equipment, classroom facilities, or district working hours for private financial gain, partisan political campaigning, or commercial solicitations.
3. Restricting Private Tutoring for Pay: Refrain from accepting private remuneration or tutoring fees for teaching students assigned to their own classroom or scheduled courses, unless explicitly sanctioned by district school board policy.
4. Refusing Influential Gifts and Gratuities: Refuse to accept any gift, favor, gratuity, or loan that could influence—or create the appearance of influencing—professional decisions regarding grades, athletic placement, student evaluations, or curriculum vendor procurement.

Principle 3: Obligation to the Profession of Education

To protect the integrity of the teaching profession, Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c), F.A.C. (Obligation to the Profession) requires educators to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and peer accountability:

1. Honesty in Certification and Employment: Never make fraudulent statements, submit falsified documents, or conceal material facts on applications for certification, employment, or professional advancement.
2. Non-Misrepresentation of Credentials: Never misrepresent professional qualifications, endorsements, academic degrees, or professional achievements to employers or the public.
3. Mandatory Reporting of Colleague Misconduct: Report to the appropriate school district authorities or the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) any known violation of the Code of Ethics or statutory educator misconduct committed by a colleague that affects the health, safety, or welfare of students.
4. Prohibition of Retaliation: Never interfere with or retaliate against a colleague who files a report or participates in an official investigation regarding professional misconduct.

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2. Mandatory Self-Reporting of Arrests (Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c)13., F.A.C.)

The 48-hour self-reporting duty comes from the Principles of Professional Conduct, not from a standalone statute. Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c)13., F.A.C. — part of the Obligation to the Profession — requires the certificate holder to self-report to a school district authority determined by the superintendent, or to another appropriate authority such as a charter school or university lab school administrator.

Citation caution: section 1012.798, F.S., is the recovery network program for educators, not the self-reporting provision. The related statute, s. 1012.797, F.S., requires law enforcement to notify the superintendent or equivalent official within 48 hours of an employee's qualifying arrest. The educator's own duty sits in the rule.

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|            FLORIDA 48-HOUR SELF-REPORTING RULE (Rule 6A-10.081(2)(c)13.)                |
|                                                                                         |
|     [REPORTABLE EVENT OCCURS]                                                           |
|     (a) Any ARREST for a felony, or for a misdemeanor offense listed under              |
|         s. 435.04(2), F.S. (the Level 2 screening disqualifying-offense list)           |
|     (b) Any conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, pretrial         |
|         diversion, or plea of guilty / nolo contendere for ANY criminal offense         |
|         other than a minor traffic violation                                            |
|                                     |                                                   |
|                                     v                                                   |
|     [MANDATORY 48-HOUR CLOCK]                                                           |
|     • For (a): 48 hours from the ARREST.                                                |
|     • For (b): 48 hours after the final judgment or commitment to diversion.            |
|     • Report to the school district authority determined by the superintendent,         |
|       or to the charter school or university lab school administrator.                  |
|                                     |                                                   |
|                                     v                                                   |
|     [CRITICAL EXAM DISTINCTION]                                                         |
|     • The report is NOT an admission of guilt and is inadmissible in any                |
|       proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial.                        |
|     • The duty attaches to the ARREST itself; later dismissal does not excuse a         |
|       failure to report, which is an independent ground for certificate discipline.     |
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Key Rules Regarding Criminal Disclosure

• Arrest trigger: an arrest for a felony, or for a misdemeanor offense listed under s. 435.04(2), F.S. — the disqualifying-offense list used for Level 2 background screening, which covers offenses such as child abuse, sexual offenses, human trafficking, and specified violent and fraud offenses. The report is due within 48 hours of the arrest.
• Disposition trigger: any conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, commitment to a pretrial diversion program, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation, due within 48 hours after the final judgment or commitment to diversion. Note how much broader this second trigger is than the first.
• Where the report goes: to a school district authority determined by the superintendent, or to the charter school or university lab school administrator, as applicable.
• Not an admission: the rule states expressly that the notice is not an admission of guilt and is not admissible for any purpose in any proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial.
• Outcome irrelevance: because the duty attaches to the arrest, a later dismissal, acquittal, or expungement does not cure a failure to report on time.
• Consequence of non-disclosure: failing to self-report is itself a violation of the Principles of Professional Conduct and an independent ground for action against the certificate under s. 1012.795, F.S.

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3. The Education Practices Commission (EPC) & Disciplinary Lifecycle

When an educator is accused of violating Florida statutes or the Code of Ethics, the case undergoes a rigorous statutory investigation and adjudication process established under Florida Statutes §1012.795 and §1012.796.

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|                    FLORIDA EDUCATOR DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION LIFECYCLE                |
|                                                                                         |
|   [STAGE 1: COMPLAINT / REPORT]                                                         |
|   District investigation, parent/public complaint, arrest notice, or hotline referral.  |
|                                     |                                                   |
|                                     v                                                   |
|   [STAGE 2: OPPS INVESTIGATION]                                                         |
|   FLDOE Office of Professional Practices Services (OPPS) gathers evidence,              |
|   interviews witnesses, and reviews documentation.                                      |
|                                     |                                                   |
|                                     v                                                   |
|   [STAGE 3: PROBABLE CAUSE DETERMINATION]                                               |
|   Commissioner of Education reviews OPPS investigative report:                          |
|   • NO PROBABLE CAUSE: Case dismissed and sealed.                                       |
|   • PROBABLE CAUSE FOUND: Administrative Complaint filed against educator's certificate.|
|                                     |                                                   |
|                                     v                                                   |
|   [STAGE 4: EPC ADJUDICATION & SANCTIONS]                                               |
|   Education Practices Commission (EPC) panel reviews the case through informal or      |
|   formal hearing (Division of Administrative Hearings / DOAH) and issues final order.   |
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The Education Practices Commission (EPC)

The Education Practices Commission (EPC) is a quasi-judicial body created under s. 1012.79, F.S. It consists of 25 members appointed by the State Board of Education from nominations submitted by the Commissioner of Education, subject to Senate confirmation — not by the Governor. Statutory membership includes classroom teachers, administrators, lay citizens who are parents of public school students, former school board members or superintendents, and sworn law enforcement officials, serving staggered four-year terms.

The EPC does not conduct initial field investigations; rather, it acts as the adjudicative jury of peers that evaluates administrative complaints brought by the Commissioner of Education and determines appropriate disciplinary sanctions.

Penalties, Procedure, and Appeals

Under s. 1012.796(7), F.S., a panel of the EPC may deny an application, issue a written reprimand, impose an administrative fine of up to $2,000 per count, place the certificate on probation, restrict the authorized scope of practice, bar reapplication, or suspend or revoke the certificate. Section 1012.795(1), F.S., caps suspension at five years and permits revocation for up to ten years or permanently. The full list of statutory grounds, the complaint-to-final-order procedure, and the appeal route are covered in Section 7.4.

[!IMPORTANT] FTCE Exam Rule on EPC Authority vs. Local School District Authority: Be careful not to confuse local employment actions with state certification sanctions:

• A Local School Board has the power to reprimand, reassign, suspend without pay, or terminate employment within that specific school district.
• Only the Education Practices Commission (EPC) has the legal authority to sanction, suspend, or permanently revoke a Florida Educator Certificate, banning the individual from teaching anywhere in the state.