In fulfilling their obligations to the public, educators shall act as follows:

1. (1) Take precautions to distinguish between their personal views and those of the local school district or governing body;
2. (2) Not knowingly distort or misrepresent the facts concerning educational matters in direct and indirect public expressions;
3. (3) Not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political and citizenship rights and responsibilities;
4. (4) Not exploit the local school district or governing body for public or personal gain;
5. (5) Not exploit the local school district or governing body to promote political candidates or partisan political activities;
6. (6) Neither accept nor offer any gratuities, gifts, services, or things of value that impair professional judgment, offer special advantage, or provide personal benefit;
7. (7) Engage in no act that results in a conviction;
8. (8) Exemplify high moral standards by not engaging in or becoming a party to such activities as fraud, embezzlement, theft, deceit, moral turpitude, gross immorality, sexual contact with students, illegal drugs, or use of misleading or false statements; and
9. (9) Not misuse or abuse school equipment or property.

Source: 2 SDR 40, effective December 9, 1975; 11 SDR 96, 11 SDR 112, effective July 1, 1985; 13 SDR 3, effective July 22, 1986; 20 SDR 92, effective December 21, 1993; 27 SDR 141, effective July 3, 2001; 37 SDR 18, effective August 18, 2010.

General Authority: SDCL 13-43-25.

Law Implemented: SDCL 13-43-25.