Media Contact:
| ETS: | Kristen Mitchell |
|---|---|
| Email: | kmitchell002@ets.org |
PRINCETON, N.J. — (June 16, 2026) — ETS’s Praxis program, the leading provider of teacher licensure assessments, today announced the expansion of ProEthica, its research‑based professional ethics program for educators. This expansion introduces new capabilities and content designed to meet the rapidly changing realities of today’s classrooms, including a new module focused on the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education.
ProEthica has been used by educator preparation programs (EPPs), school districts, and state agencies to support ethical decision‑making aligned to the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE). This latest expansion builds on that foundation, adding contemporary scenarios, enhanced flexibility, and a Facilitators Guide to enable school and district leaders, or EPP faculty and staff to lead structured discussions and professional learning communities.
“As social media, AI and other technologies become embedded in everyday teaching and learning, educators are being asked to make new and increasingly challenging high‑stakes professional judgments with less room for error,” said Vince Dean, Associate Vice President of Praxis at ETS. “Our expansion of ProEthica ensures ethics training keeps pace with reality, giving educators and leaders practical, research‑grounded support they can use immediately.”
New Capabilities Added to ProEthica
The expanded ProEthica offering incorporates feedback from states, districts, and EPPs, and introduces new features designed to drive greater relevance, adoption, and impact:
- New AI Ethics Module: Addressing a fast‑emerging gap in educator preparation and professional development, this module includes generative AI simulations that focus on human-in-the-loop decision-making in the following areas:
- Transparency, centered on how educators use AI systems and the importance of ensuring that decisions using AI-generated information are clear, defensible, and fair;
- Data Privacy, exploring issues related to student data, intellectual property, and long‑term implications of AI tools; and
- Social Media, grounded in realistic scenarios educators and students face in everyday situations.
- Updated scenarios and videos: These updates reflect modern classroom environments, digital communication norms, and evolving professional boundary challenges.
- Greater modular flexibility: ProEthica is enabled to be deployed in self‑paced, cohort‑based, or hybrid formats across preservice and in‑service audiences.
Why This Expansion Matters Now
While ethics requirements exist in most states, many educators report limited preparation for navigating today’s ethical challenges, from AI‑enabled instructional tools and student data privacy to social media interactions and professional boundaries outside the classroom.
- For school districts: The expanded ProEthica provides a turnkey, research‑backed professional development solution that helps establish a shared framework, reduces misconduct risk, and proactively supports educators before issues escalate.
- For states and EPPs: ProEthica continues to offer a trusted, MCEE‑aligned foundation for ethics instruction, providing evidence for program accreditation and state compliance reporting.
“The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board has used ProEthica as a requirement for teachers who need additional support in the areas covered in the course,” said Rebecca Pitkin, Executive Director of the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. “Several EPP’s are requiring it during the pre-service teaching seminar and have shared with us that the course sparks deep conversations and enables problem solving before they get in the classroom fulltime.”
A Stronger, More Future‑Focused Ethics Solution
ProEthica aligns with ETS’s commitment to responsible innovation in education and work, positioning the program as a comprehensive, future‑ready ethics solution at a time when expectations on educators continue to rise. The expanded ProEthica program will be available to districts, states, and EPPs nationwide beginning summer 2026.
To learn more about ProEthica, visit https://praxis.ets.org/proethica-ethics-training.html
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About Praxis
Building on ETS’s 78-year legacy of research and innovation, the Praxis® program delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions that support educators from their first steps toward teaching through continued growth in their careers. Best known for the Praxis licensure assessments that help aspiring teachers demonstrate their readiness to teach, the program also includes ParaPathways™, Praxis Bridge™, Praxis Steps™, and ProEthica® – offering access, flexibility and support for educators while helping schools bring more qualified teachers into classrooms. Learn more at praxis.ets.org.