DISTRICT PHILOSOPHY: “PURSUING EXCELLENCE WITH INTEGRITY”

The Fremont Union High School District is committed to advancing the pursuit of intellectual excellence

and to maintaining the highest standards and expectations for academic integrity among all students. We

believe in establishing a school climate that promotes ethical and responsible student conduct. In

conjunction with that belief, we support the development of a school culture that furthers our academic

mission and recognizes the hard work of students and faculty alike. We are convinced that neither

pressure for grades, inadequate time for studying or completing an assignment, nor unrealistic parental

expectations justify students acting dishonestly. As a professional learning community, we affirm that

“learning for learning’s sake” is intrinsically valued, and we will not tolerate any infractions that create or

result in an unfair academic advantage for one student, or a disadvantage for another. In short, any form

or act of academic dishonesty will undermine our standards of excellence and violate the trust that bonds

all members of the school community.

DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty is using a person’s work, concepts, designs, data, ideas, research, or documentation,

without giving proper credit to the source. It goes beyond plagiarism to also include lying, cheating,

using or providing unauthorized materials in preparation for an exam/test/quiz, or using or providing

unauthorized materials during an exam/test/quiz, and other acts, such as the theft or falsification of

records and files.

FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (EXAMPLES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT

LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING):

• Looking at someone else’s work product, or knowingly allowing someone else to look at one’s

work product during an exam, test, or quiz

• Using any kind of “cheat notes” during an exam, test, or quiz

• Copying any work assigned to be done independently or letting others copy one’s work (It is the

responsibility of the individual teacher to clarify expectations about homework and projects with

their classes, preferably in writing on their course syllabi.)

• Having unauthorized access to or using stolen exams, tests, or quizzes

• Providing or selling exam, test, or quiz information to other students

• Using an electronic device (calculator, cell phone, camera, or other gadgets) to give or receive or

copy information before, during, or after an exam, test, or quiz

• Collaborating on an exam, test, quiz or assignment with any other person without prior approval

from the teacher

• Lying about attendance or ability to complete assignments and/or assessments

FREMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, Monta Vista High Schools and Adult/Community Education

Polly M. Bove, Superintendent of Schools

• Lying about other people being responsible for low grades or missing scores/assignments

• Claiming credit for work in a group project when work was done by others

• Attempting to misrepresent the authorship of student work, i.e., having someone else write a paper

• Copying or closely paraphrasing sentences, phrases, or passages from an un-cited source while

writing a paper or doing research

• Using the views, opinions, or insights of others without proper acknowledgement

• Fabricating or altering laboratory data

• Accessing and/or using copyrighted test bank questions or any materials designed for instructors’

use only

TEACHER’S PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT

A teacher’s professional judgment guides the implementation of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy.

The teacher is responsible for setting the academic expectations, explaining the consequences of the

Policy, evaluating any evidence of student misconduct in light of the Policy, and determining whether the

Policy has been violated. Students are to conduct themselves in a sensible manner and not give the

teacher cause to consider their actions a violation of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy.

CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS

The District considers violations of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy to be serious offenses and has

therefore instituted the following consequences. The consequences apply on a schoolwide and

districtwide basis, i.e., a violation in one class follows a student to a different class within the school, and

a violation at one school follows a student to a different school within the District. Additionally,

violations of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy are cumulative for all the years a student is enrolled

in the Fremont Union High School District.

First Offense

• The student will have a reduction in grade/credit (up to, and including, an “F” grade/“0” credit) on

the assignment, exam, test, or quiz based upon the teacher’s grading system.

• The student’s semester grade may, at the teacher’s discretion, be lowered by one full letter grade.

• The teacher will confer with the student and contact the parent/guardian by phone or e-mail to

review the academic dishonesty incident within two school days of becoming aware of the

incident.

• The teacher will submit a written referral, with appropriate documentation, to an administrator

who will meet with the student and the counselor, and document the incident/follow-up action in

SASI.

• Disciplinary actions may include, but are not limited to, a warning and a signed student/parental

statement that acknowledges the violation/penalty, and indicates an understanding of further

consequences for any subsequent offenses. Additionally, a student will be suspended from school,

even on a first offense, in accordance with Education Code Section 48900, if a violation has

occurred in the following areas:

-Alteration or falsification, or attempted alteration/falsification, of records (e.g., transcripts)

-Theft, or attempted theft, of records or testing materials (exams/tests/quizzes)

• The student may be barred from participation or having a leadership role in a club, scholarship

group, student government, athletic team, or other extracurricular activity for a period of one year

from date of the violation.

Second Offense

Consequences listed in the First Offense and ONE OR MORE of the following:

• A conference will be held with an administrator, parent/guardian, teacher, counselor, and student,

and the incident/follow-up action will be documented in SASI.

• The student will be given an “F” for the six week grading period in which the incident occurred.

• The student will be dropped from the class with a grade of “F.”

• The student will be suspended from school.

Third/Continuing Offenses

Consequences listed in the First Offense and ONE OR MORE of the following:

• A conference will be held with an administrator, parent/guardian, teacher, counselor, and student,

and the incident/follow-up action will be documented in SASI.

• The student will be dropped from the class with a grade of “F.”

• The student will be suspended from school.

• The student may be referred to the District’s Placement Advisory Committee for transfer to

another school.

APPEALS PROCESS

Students wishing to contest decisions resulting from the administration of the FUHSD Academic Honesty

Policy may submit their appeals in writing to the principal.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC HONESTY

Administrators, teachers, parents and students must understand, accept, and share responsibilities if this

policy is to be effective.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The student will:

• set aside sufficient time to study

• participate actively in class and attend regularly

• protect work—do not lend or borrow work

• observe test time limits

• not look at another’s test or allow his or her test to be seen

• not talk during a test or about the test until all classes have had a chance to take it

• not represent as his or her own the work of a parent, brother, sister, or anyone else

• not change a test item in any way when the test is returned for review

• not allow one member of a team to do the whole task

• learn how to attribute work properly by citation, footnote, and bibliography

• not enter teacher offices and other restricted areas without permission and/or being

accompanied by a staff person

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The parent will:

• communicate to the student values of moral and ethical behavior

• refrain from placing undue pressure for high grades at any cost

• be aware of a student’s need for a quiet time and a place to study

• support the student’s efforts, but not edit, type, or in any other way do the work

• encourage wise use of time

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

The teacher will:

• review at the beginning of the school year the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy along

with their course descriptions/syllabi/greensheets that spell out clearly the consequences

for academic dishonesty in their classes; review the various examples and forms of

academic dishonesty that should be avoided

• be specific as to whether work is to be cooperative or individual, i.e., clarify the definition

and expectation of “group work”

• keep completed assignments and tests secure

• inform students if unannounced tests will be used in the course

• ensure that grades in mark documents and the grade book are private and safe; not allow

teaching assistants (TA’s) to make or maintain grade entries

ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The administrator will:

• provide copies of the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy to all teachers for distribution to

students

• place the signed FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy Parent/Student Agreement Statement

in cum folders

• support teachers in administering discipline and upholding the FUHSD Academic Honesty

Policy

• record incident/follow-up action in SASI; inform teachers about outcome of the referral

• review on a case-by-case basis the need to reference infractions on Secondary School

Reports

• facilitate conferences and counsel students in every case of academic dishonesty

• communicate with teachers about students who have prior violations

• collaborate with teachers in maintaining a secure digital and physical environment

• review and resolve appeals

Acknowledgments: The Fremont Union High School District is grateful to all five District schools (Cupertino, Fremont,

Homestead, Lynbrook, Monta Vista) as well as the following schools for use of their site policies in the development of the

FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy: Palo Alto High School, Lowell High School, and the Boston Latin School.

5/23/08sm