Academic Honesty
The purpose of this policy is to support a community where we show ourselves authentically in our learning and respect the learning and creation of others. The Interlake community—faculty, students, and parents—strives for a spirited search for knowledge, and expects all work to be a true and honest reflection of that search. To ensure the integrity of our community, we will engage in acts that demonstrate academic honesty.
School Responsibilities
- Maintain a fair and consistent policy that is sustainable and easily enforced. Policy should be very clear and easily accessible.
- Educate all teachers, students, parents and community.
- Provide direction and resources for teachers to educate students.
- Model best practices.
- Provide space for discussion.
- Maintain safe, open environment for reporting.
- Develop and maintain a record keeping system that documents violations and consequences.
- Communicate to parents (at Curriculum Night, PTSA meetings) information about the Academic Honesty Policy.
Teacher Responsibilities – (“If you want it, teach it.”)
- Design (use) authentic assessment.
- Be clear with students on why this assignment, project or lab furthers their knowledge (Why is this important?)
- Educate students about what constitutes academic dishonesty for the assignment, project, lab, etc. (is working in groups allowed? Copying notes from another student? Sharing ideas?)
- Give students the language to talk to each other about their responsibilities for the assignment.
- Focus on preventative actions, and less about consequences.
- Communicate to parents (through course syllabus, etc.) ‘What is academic honesty in this class/discipline?’
- Model the practices we expect.
Student Responsibilities – (“Know what you own and what you owe.”)
It is the student’s responsibility to acknowledge what they own, or what is original to them, and what they owe to others. This means,
- Acknowledge all your sources.
- Report dishonest behavior within a safe environment.
- Learn what dishonest behavior looks like/sounds like.
- Talk to your peers about what the acceptable behaviors for the assignment.
- Understand what constitutes plagiarism with regards to writing a research paper, copying another student’s homework answers, literary or musical composition, artwork, etc.
- Use technology responsibly, including learning what constitutes illegal copyright- i.e. pictures from the internet.
- Use appropriate practice regarding references, citations, quotations and paraphrasing.
- Take responsibility for own work and group work.
Parent Responsibilities
- Understand what constitutes academic honesty.
- Support students in taking responsibility for their actions.
- Recognize goal of school is develop student’s knowledge, and promote inquiry.
- Help students choose balanced work load.
- Encourage and help students advocate for themselves (ask for help when needed, attend tutorial, ask questions to improve understanding/learning).
Education and Support (What should we teach?)
IB Learner Profile, Academic Honesty Policy, Plagiarism and Digital Citizenship
Lesson(s)/activity(s) examining and evaluating what plagiarism looks like and effects of plagiarism personal/community/professionally
- Plagiarism in school
- Plagiarism beyond school
- Plagiarism per-lesson (each subject, specific lessons)
- Long term effects of plagiarism
- How to avoid plagiarism
- “Cheating” on tests and homework
Scope, Sequence and Implementation of Research skills (citations, searching skills, source analysis, note-taking, data bases.)
Reporting Procedures
Central records will help ensure consistency, and may also highlight general trends or students who need further intervention. Referrals of academic dishonesty will be entered into the SYNERGY student information system.
BSD Policy
The consequences below are in accordance with BSD policy 3241 and 3241P which defines cheating as “copying the work of other persons, or turning in another person’s papers, projects, computer programs, etc., as your own or having someone else write your paper, program, or project, including asking friends, paying someone, using a paper writing service, or other methods as determined by the teacher or administrator etc. Cheating also includes the aiding and abetting of cheating by others including but not limited to, stealing or providing questions and/or answers to one or more persons prior to any type of assessment (meaning any work that is used to determine a student’s grade or progress.)”
In relationship between plagiarism and artificial intelligence, IHS administrators consider the use of any AI technology without the consent and knowledge of the teacher to be plagiarism.
When applying consequences, teachers and administrators will comply with BSD policy 2420 and 2420P which states that “no single project, test, research paper or other assignment can have such a bearing on a student’s grade as to cause the student to receive a failing grade at the quarter or semester reporting date.”
Consequences
Gradebook | Classroom Consequences | School Consequences | Follow up and Support | |
Level 1
(1st offense in that class, lower level assignment) |
Student to redo the assignment for partial or full credit based on teacher discretion.
Partial credit is any grade lower than the earned grade but higher than zero credit. Full credit is the earned grade on said assignment. Should the infraction be on a retake, the original grade will stand. The retake opportunity is lost. |
Teacher to notify parent via Phone Call or Email
|
Teacher documents MINOR incident in SYNERGY | Teacher check in – one week from incidence
(Example, “How are you doing on (current assignment)?” Do you have questions about ___? Review of academic honesty guidelines and /or practices TBD based on nature of offense. Teacher assigns required tutorial if appropriate. |
Level 2
(2nd offense in that class, or major assignment) |
Student to redo the assignment – for partial or full credit based on teacher discretion.
Partial credit is any grade lower than the earned grade but higher than zero credit. Full credit is the earned grade on said assignment. Should the infraction be on a retake, the original grade will stand. The retake opportunity is lost. |
Teacher to coordinate with Assistant Principal to hold Parent Conference | Teacher documents MINOR incident in SYNERGY.
AP to coordinate with teacher re: Parent Conference AP assigns Attendance and Engagement workshop.
|
Teacher and/or Counselor schedule check in with student two weeks from incidence.
Review of academic honesty guidelines and /or practices TBD based on nature of offense. Teacher assigns required Tutorial if appropriate. |
Level 3
(Multiple Level 1 and 2 offenses in one or more classes, or offense involves assessment or project with significant impact on grade.) |
Student to redo the assignment for partial credit
Partial credit is any grade lower than the earned grade but higher than zero credit. Incomplete is entered for test/project/lab and final grade will not be determined until complete) Should the infraction be on a retake, the original grade will stand. The retake opportunity is lost. *IB Diploma students may not receive score for course. |
Teacher to attend portion of Parent Conference not related to discipline consequence. | Teacher documents MAJOR incident in SYNERGY.
AP schedules Parent Conference AP assigns one day In-School Suspension |
Counselor and Assistant Principal – weekly check ins for a month
Review of academic honesty guidelines and /or practices TBD based on nature of offense. Teacher assigns required Tutorial if appropriate. |
Level 4
(Persistent Level 1, 2 and/or 3 offenses in one or more classes, or the offense involves stealing or providing test answers to other students) |
Student receives zero credit for the assignment. Should that result in a failing grade at the quarter or semester, partial credit will be given.
Zero credit may differ by teacher. Some teachers may set the grading floor at 50% while others may choose to set it at 0%. This is up to the teacher’s discretion. |
Role in Parent Conference at this level to be determined by AP | Teacher documents MAJOR incident in SYNERGY.
AP schedules Parent Conference AP assigns two day In-School Suspension |
Counselors and Assistant Principal check ins during subsequent semester or school year. Frequency TBD.
Review of academic honesty guidelines and /or practices TBD based on nature of offense. |