ABOUT CTA CODE OF ETHICS PREAMBLE PRINCIPLE I COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENT a. Exclude any student from participation in any program b. Deny benefits to any student c. Grant any advantage to any student. PRINCIPLE II COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSION POSITION STATEMENT Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment Revised April 2005, Reaffirmed and Updated May 2011 A position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children Endorsed by the Association for Childhood Education International Adopted by the National Association for Family Child Care Preamble NAEYC recognizes that those who work with young children face many daily decisions that have moral and ethical implications. The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct offers guidelines for responsible behavior and sets forth a common basis for resolving the principal ethical dilemmas encountered in early childhood care and education. The Statement of Commitment is not part of the Code but is a personal acknowledgement of an individual’s willingness to embrace the distinctive values and moral obligations of the field of early childhood care and education. The primary focus of the Code is on daily practice with children and their families in programs for children from birth through 8 years of age, such as infant/toddler programs, preschool and prekindergarten programs, child care centers, hospital and child life settings, family child care homes, kindergartens, and primary classrooms. When the issues involve young children, then these provisions also apply to specialists who do not work directly with children, including program administrators, parent educators, early childhood adult educators, and officials with responsibility for program monitoring and licensing. (Note: See also the “Code of Ethical Conduct: Supplement for Early Childhood Adult Educators,” online at www.naeyc.org/about/positions/pdf/ethics04. pdf. and the “Code of Ethical Conduct: Supplement for Early Childhood Program Administrators,” online at http://www. naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05_supp.pdf) Core values Standards of ethical behavior in early childhood care and education are based on commitment to the following core values that are deeply rooted in the history of the field of early childhood care and education. We have made a commitment to • Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle • Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn • Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family • Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society • Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague) • Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues • Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect * The term culture includes ethnicity, racial identity, economic level, family structure, language, and religious and political beliefs, which profoundly influence each child’s development and relationship to the world. Copyright © 2011 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct Conceptual framework The Code sets forth a framework of professional responsibilities in four sections. Each section addresses an area of professional relationships: (1) with children, (2) with families, (3) among colleagues, and (4) with the community and society. Each section includes an introduction to the primary responsibilities of the early childhood practitioner in that context. The introduction is followed by a set of ideals (I) that reflect exemplary professional practice and by a set of principles (P) describing practices that are required, prohibited, or permitted. The ideals reflect the aspirations of practitioners. The principles guide conduct and assist practitioners in resolving ethical dilemmas.* Both ideals and principles are intended to direct practitioners to those questions which, when responsibly answered, can provide the basis for conscientious decision making. While the Code provides specific direction for addressing some ethical dilemmas, many others will require the practitioner to combine the guidance of the Code with professional judgment. The ideals and principles in this Code present a shared framework of professional responsibility that affirms our commitment to the core values of our field.