Georgia Professional Standards Commission
Educator Ethics
Conducting Effective Testing Investigations
Review your local policies
to assure that they are in
compliance with the law,
DOE Rules and the Code
of Ethics for Georgia
Educators.
Follow local policies
and procedures in
investigating alleged
misconduct.
Investigation Goal
To obtain as much
information as
possible to fully
understand an event.
Complaint
• Determine whether the conduct
described is a violation of procedure or
cheating.
Most procedure issues can be
handled at the local level –
Cheating must be reported to the
PSC.
Different accounts of what
happened do not necessarily
mean the person being
questioned is being dishonest.
You remember what you see
and you remember what you
perceived.
Who should be notified?
• School Test Coordinator
• Principal
• System Test Coordinator
• Superintendent
• DOE
Remain objective!
If you cannot remain objective,
assign someone else to do the
investigation!
Immediate Actions Required
• Secure Physical Evidence
(Check the Trash Can and
Personal Space of the
Teacher)
• Document What Happened
(What did you find; Where
did you find it?)
Documenting the Incident
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Incident Type
Location of Incident
Date/Time of Incident
Reported By
Report Received By
Participants
Witnesses
What Happened?
Evidence Collected
Document the
Incident
Incident Report
Incident Type (Theft, Assault, Alcohol, etc.)
Date/Time of Incident
Location of Incident
Date/Time Reported
Reported To
Investigator
Participants (Name, Home/Work Addresses, Contact Information)
Decide what information
you will need and create a
report format to assist
you in documenting the
investigation. It is easy to
forget something if you
don’t have a good report
form.
This form is available at
www.GAPSC.org. for download
and use. Contact your HR
Director if you want a copy.
Perpetrator(s):
Victim(s):
Complainant (Name, Home/Work Addresses, Contact Information)
Witnesses (Name, Home/Work Addresses, Contact Information - Use back of sheet if additional space is needed)
Description of the incident (What Happened?)
List of Evidence Collected
Reported to
DFCS?
Yes
No
Law Enforcement?
Yes
No
PSC?
Yes
No
Certification Information (Name, Certificate #, Position held)
Disposition
Collect Evidence
Notes
Test Documents
Answer Documents
Copies
Cell Phones
Erasures
Anything that may have comprised
the test
Document What Happened
Identify Witnesses (Students & Adults)
Take Pictures
Record Dates and Times
Cite What Procedure(s) was Violated
Verify that Training was Provided
Identify the Test (CRCT, EOCT, ITBS, etc.)
Note Teacher’s Reaction
Note what Action You took
Plan the Investigation
 What
 Who
is the allegation?
will investigate?
 What
facts are needed?
Plan the Investigation
 What
documentation is
available?
 What
evidence needs to
be collected?
Plan the Investigation

Who should be interviewed?
(Examiners, Proctors, Test
Takers, Test Coordinators,
Administrators, Anyone else that
had access or responsibility for
the test.)

What information is expected
from each witness?
Plan the Investigation
 What
other agencies
should be involved - DOE?
 What
independent actions
should the school system
take immediately?
Interviewing
General Hints About Interviewing
• Use a Private Location.
• Record the Interview.
• Interview Everyone Individually.
• Interview the Witnesses First.
• Don’t Interrupt.
• Allow Time to Respond.
• Don’t Promise Anything.
• Don’t Voice Opinions.
• Don’t Be Accusatory
• Use Reflective Listening
• Thank the Person Interviewed
Control the environment.
Establish Rapport
Silence is Okay
Interview
Avoid Leading Questions
Do you remember X?
Avoid Yes or No Questions.
Avoid Negative Wording
You don’t remember X, do you?
Ask: Tell me what you remember.
Rephrase and repeat :
“Is there any other
information that you can
remember that would be
helpful in determining
what happened?”
Interviewing the Accused
When interviewing the accused educator:
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Inform her/him of the allegations.
Be open, concerned and non-judgmental.
Gather facts and do not make judgments.
Ask for the educator’s account of the
situation.
• Ask if there are other witnesses you should
contact.
Questioning Children
• Avoid questions with Yes or No answers.
• If you don’t understand what they’re
trying to tell you, ask them to re-state
what they said in different words.
• Allow the child to move around, fiddle or
whatever - it allows the child feel they
have some control.
• Listen and observe nonverbal expressions.
• Written expressions are more effective
with adolescents.
During the Interview
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Observe the body language of the
person being interviewed.
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Be aware of your body language
(tone of voice, gestures and facial expressions.)
After the Interview
1. Document what you observed
2. Transcribe your Tape and Notes
3. Have the Transcript Signed
4. Obtain a Written Statement
5. Keep Notes in a Separate File
6. Complete the Record
Report Unethical Conduct
to the
Professional Standards
Commission.
Employment Issues involving
competence,
insubordination,
medical problems,
physical health,
emotional or mental health,
and local policy
should be handled at the local level.
Professional Standards Commission
Ethics Division
Contact Information
Gary Walker, Director
John Grant, Chief Investigator
@GAPSC.com
404-232-2700