Code of Ethics & reporting policies

Reporting ethical misconduct

Every EWCCA employee has a duty to report concerns that could affect the health, safety, or welfare of students or employees. Reports should be made promptly to the employee’s immediate supervisor, the Guidance Counselor, or the Head of School when the appropriate supervisor is unavailable.

Knowingly failing to report a concern may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Employees receive annual training on the school’s ethics and reporting responsibilities.

The school’s reporting policy recognizes protections for good-faith reporting. Florida Statutes section 39.203 addresses immunity for reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect in good faith. Section 768.095 addresses employer disclosures about current or former employees under the conditions described in that statute.

Internal reporting does not replace a person’s responsibility to report suspected abuse or neglect to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

Student safety and abuse reporting

Suspected physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or abandonment must be reported immediately to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE). Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.

Report concerns based on reasonable suspicion; a reporter does not need to prove that abuse occurred before contacting the hotline. Provide the information you know and allow the appropriate authorities to investigate.

See abuse reporting information and contact options.

Background screening

EWCCA’s policy calls for background screening of employees and volunteers who have unsupervised contact with students.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides a public sexual offender and predator registry. Visit the FDLE registry (opens in a new tab) or call 1-888-FL-PREDATOR (1-888-357-7332) for registry information.

Principles of professional conduct

Educators are entrusted with the care and education of students. Ethical conduct includes respect for each person’s dignity, a commitment to learning, and responsibility to students, the public, and the profession.

Responsibility to students

Protect students from conditions harmful to learning, mental or physical health, or safety.
Respect students’ rights and individual differences; do not discriminate, harass, embarrass, or disparage students.
Do not exploit a professional relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
Protect confidential student information except when disclosure serves a lawful professional purpose or is required by law.
Support students’ access to learning, independent thought, and appropriate points of view.

Responsibility to the public

Distinguish personal views from those of the school or other educational institutions.
Represent educational matters honestly and do not use professional privileges for private gain.
Do not accept or offer gifts or favors that influence professional judgment or provide special advantage.

Responsibility to the profession

Maintain honesty in applications, qualifications, professional records, and statements about colleagues.
Respect colleagues’ rights and protect them from harassment, discrimination, and malicious statements.
Report required misconduct and cooperate with authorized investigations.
Follow applicable requirements for self-reporting, professional certification, and reporting alleged violations.
Do not interfere with another person’s reporting responsibilities or retaliate against good-faith participation in a professional review.

This overview preserves the school’s substantive ethics expectations. The Florida Department of Education publishes the current Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida, Rule 6A-10.081. Consult the current rule for its complete requirements.

Notice regarding parentally placed private-school students

Students with disabilities who are placed by their parents in a private school do not have an individual right to receive the same special education and related services they would receive if enrolled in a public school.

Families may contact their local school district for information about child find, evaluation, and services available to eligible parentally placed private-school students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Official resources

For questions about the school’s reporting process, contact EWCCA. Urgent abuse or safety reports should go directly to the appropriate authorities.

Code of Ethics.