Privacy Policy

Student Safety, Integrity, and Accountability

EDUCATE Schools maintain clear, enforceable policies to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students across our programs. These policies apply to all instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators.

Professional Standards and Ethical Conduct

All personnel are required to uphold high standards of professional and ethical conduct. This includes maintaining appropriate boundaries with students, ensuring respectful interactions, and avoiding any behavior that could harm a student physically, emotionally, or psychologically. These expectations apply across in-person, virtual, and digital environments.

Training Requirements

All instructional personnel, educational support staff, and administrators complete mandatory training upon hire and annually, including:

• Ethical conduct and professional boundaries

• Child abuse recognition and prevention

• Required reporting obligations

Duty to Report Misconduct and Abuse

All personnel have an immediate and affirmative duty to report any known or suspected:

• Child abuse, abandonment, or neglect

• Misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, or school administrators

Reports must be made immediately and without independent investigation. Retaliation against individuals who report in good faith is strictly prohibited.

Reporting Procedures

EDUCATE Schools maintain clear reporting procedures, including:

• Designated internal reporting contacts

• Direct reporting to appropriate external authorities, including child protection agencies and law enforcement when required

• Publicly accessible reporting information through school sites and online platforms

Accountability and Enforcement

Failure to comply with reporting requirements or ethical standards may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and may involve legal consequences under applicable law.

Florida Legal Requirements and Protections

In accordance with Florida law:

• Individuals who report suspected abuse in good faith are protected from civil and criminal liability under Florida Statutes Section 39.203.

• Employers are protected when sharing truthful information about an employee’s misconduct with prospective employers under Florida Statutes Section 768.095.

EDUCATE Schools prohibit the use of confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements to conceal misconduct and comply with all required reporting and disclosure obligations.

Screening and Hiring Practices

All personnel with student contact are subject to appropriate background screening and employment verification to support a safe learning environment.

State Compliance

These policies align with statutory requirements and are implemented alongside applicable laws to ensure consistent student protection across all EDUCATE programs.