You want to be a teacher in Florida. The FTCE has a reputation for difficulty but you study hard and pass. The celebration is short lived though, you receive a letter from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) accusing you of cheating. What should you do? Read on for advice from a lawyer for teachers.
Can you cheat on the FTCE?
The exam centers are well equipped to combat cheating. Cameras, microphones, and other policies stop most people from cheating.
If it is so hard to cheat on the FTCE, how come I have been accused of cheating?
I have had clients who take the exam several times. The test question bank contains a fixed amount of questions. Since the FLDOE does not limit the amount of times a person can take a FTCE test, a person could draw the same question more than once.
Accused of cheating on the FTCE essay portion
The FLDOE has explicit testing instructions that the test taker should not prewrite essays. That means even if you took an exam and did not pass, but practice the essay question to study, you are breaking a testing rule. Your best bet is to practice writing prompts given in other study aides, not past FTCE essay prompts.Also, you cannot give your old practice questions to other people who will be taking the FTCE. If that person ends up writing an essay that is similar to yours, it could get flagged as being too similar to your old essay.
Suspended from getting a teaching license
If the FLDOE suspects that you cheated on a FTCE exam, they can invalidate a passing score and bar you from taking the test for a specific period of time, which essentially suspends you from becoming a teacher.
Can I fight the FTCE exam cheating accusation?
Yes. There is an investigative and hearing process for people testing to be a certified teacher. I always recommend hiring a lawyer who handles Florida teacher professional misconduct to assist. Your career is on the line.
How long does it take to prove that I did not cheat on the FTCE?
That depends. Many factors contribute to how fast the Florida FLDOE processes a certification investigation.
Can you help me fight an accusation of cheating on the FTCE?
Yes. I help all Florida teachers facing certification issues, including appeals and disciplinary action. Call me today for a free consultation and protect your professional future. Richard Asselta is an award-winning lawyer who defends teachers throughout the state of Florida. Click here to read how he helps teachers with teaching certification discipline at the district and state levels, administrative FLDOE hearings, investigations, and denial appeals. Click here to read what client’s are saying about Richard on Avvo, a lawyer review website.