NC Education Code · Regulation
Title 16 — root / Chapter 06 — 16 NCAC 06C .0602
Plain English summary
This rule establishes uniform Standards of Professional Conduct for all licensed professional educators in North Carolina, covering areas such as student interactions, honesty, substance use, confidentiality, and public funds. Violations of these standards may result in disciplinary sanctions against an educator's license as reviewed by the State Board of Education. The rule was most recently readopted effective July 1, 2025, with a temporary amendment in effect since June 6, 2024.
Key requirements
- The educator shall adhere to and practice the professional standards of all federal, state, and local governing bodies with public education oversight.
- The educator shall treat all students with respect and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all students, regardless of whether that student is directly under the care or supervision of the educator.
- The educator shall not use profane, vulgar, or demeaning language toward or in the presence of a student.
- The educator shall not engage in intentional or reckless exposure of students to profane, vulgar, or sexually explicit material except as part of age-appropriate classroom instruction or other pedagogical practice.
- The educator shall not engage in solicitation, encouragement, or consummation of a romantic, physical, or sexual relationship with a student in any form, whether written, verbal, or physical.
- The educator shall not engage in solicitation, encouragement, or consummation of sexual contact with a student.
- The educator shall not engage in sexual harassment, as defined in 34 C.F.R. 106.30(a).
- The educator shall not engage in child abuse, as defined in G.S. 14-318.2 or G.S. 14-318.4.
- The educator shall not be under the influence of, possess, use, or consume an alcoholic beverage or a controlled substance on school premises, at a school-sponsored activity, or when otherwise discharging the educator's professional duties, unless the educator has a prescription from a licensed medical professional authorizing such use.
- The educator shall not furnish alcoholic beverages or controlled substances to a student, except for the administration of medication prescribed by a licensed medical professional in accordance with the educator's professional duties.
- The educator shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in the performance of the educator's professional duties.
- The educator shall not violate the criminal laws of this State, the United States, or any other state or territory under the jurisdiction of the United States.
- The educator shall not solicit current students or parents of students to purchase equipment, supplies, or services from the educator in a private remunerative capacity.
- An educator shall not tutor for remuneration students currently assigned to the educator's classes, unless approved by the local superintendent.
- The educator shall keep confidential all personally identifiable information regarding students or their family members obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or is necessary for the personal safety of the student or others.
- The educator shall not willfully or maliciously violate the constitutional or civil rights of a student, parent or legal guardian, or colleague.
- The educator shall make all reports required by Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
- The educator shall not misuse public funds or property or any funds belonging to an organization affiliated with the school or PSU.
- The educator shall not perform any professional duty or function for which licensure is required during any period in which the educator's license is suspended or revoked.
- The educator shall not directly or indirectly use or threaten to use any official authority or influence in any manner that discourages, restrains, coerces, interferes with, or discriminates against any subordinate or any licensee who in good faith reports any facts or information relative to the actual or suspected violation of any law or rule regulating the duties of persons serving in the public school system.
Affected parties
- Licensed professional educators
- State Board of Education
- Public school units (PSUs)
- Students
- Parents and legal guardians
- Local superintendents