Honesty, Plagiarism, & Cheating

The fifth point of the Cosmos’ Code states, “Be truthful; communicate honestly.” This applies to all of your interactions at Springfield High School. This includes your academic work and your interactions with SHS staff members. As a learning community, we will always promote academic achievement but this is never justification for using the words, thoughts, or ideas of another person without acknowledging their work.  In understanding and abiding by this policy, it is important for you to understand what our school means by the words “honesty,” “plagiarism” and “cheating”. 

Honesty:

SHS expects that students, in their interactions with school staff and in the building, are honest and truthful. Dishonest communication costs significant district time and resources and can, in many circumstances, lead to denial of the educational or employment rights of another individual. The prohibition against dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, times when students are interviewed about conduct that happened where they may have witnessed or participated in a violation of our code of conduct, a complaint made about another student or staff member, or if a student makes a report (including the report of a threat against the school or the pulling of a fire alarm.) Dishonesty in an interaction with an SHS staff member is grounds for discipline (see below).

Plagiarism: 

Students are expected to cite each web page, book, or any other source every time they include information from that source in an essay or project. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

• Including the words of another writer without including proper citation. Copying from the Internet. other electronic sources, books, and other printed material—even one phrase or sentence—is considered plagiarism unless there are quotation marks preceding and following the quoted material or an in-text citation. Student must also include a citation of the source (Works Cited page or Bibliography) at the end of their paper. This applies to other forms of expression as well—artwork, photography, computer coding, mathematical calculations, etc.

• Citing the sources used but copying and pasting entire sentences (or photos/graphics/code) without using quotation marks or proper citation methods.

• Presenting the ideas of another person as one’s own original thoughts; unless a student attributes the ideas to the correct source, even if the wording is changed, it can be considered plagiarism.

• Submitting another student’s work as one’s own, for example, an essay written by a sibling or another student.

• Submitting a paper, art work, etc. purchased from an Internet site.

• Using generative capabilities of AI.

Cheating:

The following are specific examples of cheating:

• Copying another student’s work or assignment (including homework) to submit as one’s own.

• Allowing another student to copy your assignment (including homework) with the intention of taking credit for the work.

• Using an unauthorized set of notes, a “cheat sheet” or answer key, calculator, or other storage device during a test or quiz.

• Helping another student without permission on a test or quiz.

• Stealing or borrowing or removing an exam from the classroom or taking it from a teacher without explicit permission.

• Modifying or in any way altering a teacher’s grades or official records.

• Using a teacher’s notes, manuals, or guides without explicit permission.

• Submitting an assignment in two separate classes for different assignments without explicit permission from your teachers (in both subjects).

Plagiarism and cheating are unacceptable in any environment, but particularly in a learning environment. Students who misrepresent someone else’s work as their own are cheating.  If, at any time, you are unsure whether or not your work will be considered plagiarism, or if you need assistance with your writing or project, you should seek out the support of your teacher or the SHS Librarian before handing in the work.  All cheating/plagiarism violators will be turned in to the office and engage in the following process:

Artificial Intelligence:

AI engines, like ChatGPT, are powerful tools that SSD is working on policies and procedures to define and outline expectations.  Currently, students using the generative capabilities of AI and passing it off as their own will fall under plagiarism. 

First Offense: The student meets with the assistant principal and is given no credit/proficiency for the assignment; and any reassessment will not override the zero(s).  Students will also need to do a virtual lesson on academic expectations around plagiarism during an after-school detention, and will not be permitted to reassess unless the lesson has been completed with a passing score. (Note: If the violation occurs during Demonstration Days, the student may not reassess on those targets).

Second Offense: The student meets with the assistant principal and is given no credit/proficiency for the assignment; the student may not reassess on that assignment unless there are extraordinary circumstances. The student must attend a meeting with the teacher, family, and assistant principal to discuss the harm caused by the plagiarism and supports needed moving forward, and will receive consequences based on that meeting, likely to include at least one detention. 

Third and Subsequent Offenses: The student does not receive proficiency or credit in the course in which the offense occurred and appears before the principal to determine other consequences, which may include suspension.