Professional Teaching Practices Commission

Mission Statement

The Professional Teaching Practices Commission’s intent is to serve as a preventative and positive force in helping to enhance the professional performance of all educators so that the public’s right to the best education possible for all of Alaska’s students is adequately protected.

In 1966, the education profession in the state of Alaska was granted the right and responsibility to define and to enforce ethical standards of its members. The Alaska Legislature established and empowered a nine-member Commission to impose sanctions against the certificates of educators who engage in illegal, immoral, or unethical conduct. The Professional Teaching Practices Commission is composed of five teachers, one superintendent, one principal, one representative of the Department of Education & Early Development, and one representative of higher education.

News

In October 2016 the Professional Teaching Practices Commission proposed twelve changes to the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession. Twenty-six people submitted written public comment. After considering those comments, the Commission made further revisions during their January 2017 meeting and then voted to accept all twelve proposals. A review by the Department of Law followed, resulting in their acceptance of nine of the proposals. For consistency and clarity, the regulations attorneys made minor wording and formatting changes. Three proposals were withdrawn. The Commission will be pursuing revisions to those proposals later this year. Those proposed revisions will be noted on the PTPC website when the public comment period opens.

Below are links to four different presentations of the updated Code of Ethics. The changes took effect September 27, 2017. The PTPC is not printing large sized posters of the Code of Ethics at this time.

• Code of Ethics Poster (11 X 17)
• Code of Ethics Three Column
• Code of Ethics Three Column with changes highlighted
• Code of Ethics Full Page

The Professional Teaching Practices Commission is considering three changes to the Code of Ethics and related regulations. 20 AAC 10.020 (Code of ethics and teaching standards) is proposed to be changed to clarify that that the Code of Ethics explicitly prohibits sexual contact between educators and recently graduated students for up to one year after graduation from high school. 20 AAC 10.035 (Moral turpitude) is proposed to be changed by adding “providing students marijuana or marijuana related products” to the list of crimes of moral turpitude. 20 AAC 10.900 (Definitions) is proposed to be changed by adding the definition of “student.” Written public comment must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. Click on the links below for more information and for text of the proposed regulation changes.

• Notice of Proposed Changes
• Additional Notice Information
• Proposed Changes

Scheduled Meetings

The Alaska State Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) is tentatively scheduled to meet October 3-4, 2017, February 26-28, 2018, and April 26-27, 2018 in Anchorage for the 2018 fiscal year. The Commission plans to consider disciplinary actions against certificate holders, to conduct administrative reviews, and to discuss other Commission business.

Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aid, service, or assistance may contact the PTPC office prior to the meeting. The public is welcome. For more information, call PTPC 269-6579.

Meeting Documents

2018

• February (Special)
  • Agenda (pdf)
  • Minutes (pdf)
• February
  • Agenda (pdf)
• April
• October

2017

• January
  • Agenda (pdf)
  • Minutes (pdf)
• April
  • Agenda (pdf)
  • Minutes (pdf)
• October
  • Agenda (pdf)
  • Minutes (pdf)

2016

• January
  • Agenda (word)
  • Minutes (word)
• April
  • Agenda (word)
  • Minutes (pdf)
• October
  • Agenda (pdf)
  • Minutes (pdf)

2015

• January
  • Agenda (word)
  • Minutes (word)
• April
  • Agenda (word)
  • Minutes (word)
• September
  • Agenda (word)
  • Minutes (word)