Highland Park Elementary

Highland Park Academic Integrity Policy

Philosophy: 

Highland Park hopes to create an environment where students celebrate and support diversity, inquiry, and the pursuit of novel solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. We educate and support our children to become KIND (Kinetic, Inquiring, Nurturing, Diverse), responsible citizens who will be lifelong learners in our globally diverse and changing world. As our students grow, we hope to see them become more principled and reflective communicators, understanding the importance of academic integrity and trust. We work with students to help them grasp the seriousness of academic honesty, especially in our current age of easily accessible solutions via technology to required tasks. Students will take responsibility for their actions in cases of academic dishonesty, including cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, wrongfully giving or receiving answers during examinations, wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores, dishonestly submitting work as their own, using another student’s username or password, making up material, data, or citations for an assignment, or falsifying records. We believe that our Highland Park Pandas should have respect for people’s real and intellectual property, have pride in their work, and use technology tools responsibly. 

Practices: 

• Teachers model honesty and integrity.
• Social Emotional Lessons used in grades K-6 promote respect for self, others, and learning.
• PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) is a school-wide framework at Highland Park that uses positive strategies to teach appropriate behaviors and encourages students to make responsible choices.
• The Learner Profile Attributes are used throughout our school to support students as they practice being principled and balanced in their academic lives.
• Students receive instruction each year in digital citizenship. 
• Teachers model best practice by attributing information to the proper sources during lessons and presentations.
• Age-appropriate instruction is provided to students about how to cite sources and use references and quotations. 
• Students are directed to take appropriate actions if they witness academic dishonesty.
• Students and parents sign an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to ensure that students understand and abide by the district’s expectations for the use of information technology and media sources.
• Academic integrity responsibilities are communicated to students and parents/guardians through the MCCSC Student Support Guide.

Consequences: 

When violations of academic honesty occur, we help the student learn from the mistake.This could include further instruction on crediting sources, discussions about what constitutes plagiarism, or methods of taking personal responsibility.  As mentionoed in the MCCSC Support Guide, academic dishonesty offenses are corrected by the teacher or supervising adult in the setting where the behavior occurs. If a pattern of these offenses persists, consultation to set up a corrective plan may be necessary. Depending on the circumstances, a Level 1 offense may be upgraded to a Level 2 offense.

If multiple violations occur, students may receive further consequences. As each situation differs, decisions about consequences will depend on the severity of the situation, the age of the student, and/or the number of instances that have occurred.  Possible consequences may include:

• Opportunity to resubmit work
• Loss of credit for the assignment
• Loss of privileges
• Conference with parents, staff and/or administration