Academic Policies
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Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is an essential component of the educational process. Plagiarism, cheating, collusion and misrepresentation are among many forms of scholastic dishonesty; all of which are in- compatible with the principles and values of Argo Community High School. Students engaging in the activities listed below are subject to academic and behavioral consequences, as outlined below. The classroom instructor will determine when the academic honesty policy has been violated. Students have the right to appeal the Instructor’s decision to the Assistant Division Chair/Division Chair. A second and final appeal can be made to either the Principal or the Academic Discipline Committee. Academic dishonesty will be enforced by the student’s guidance counselor.
All of the following are considered acts of academic dishonesty:
- Sharing answers from a graded assignment with other students
- Turning in the same work to two different classes or for two different graded assignments
- Presenting someone else’s words, thoughts, work, images, ideas as one’s own
- Providing another student access to graded assessments, including but not limited to sharing passwords and login information.
- Use of AI programs (such as ChatGPT, Bard) to create content that is then submitted as the student’s work
- Completing academic work for another student.
- Taking graded assignment information from another student, with or without his or her knowledge.
- Falsifying or inventing any information or citation for a graded assignment
- Using materials or resources which are not permitted, including but not limited to online translator and conversion applications, previous years’ quizzes or tests, websites, or cell phones
- Changing grades in a gradebook – electronic or printed
- Providing test questions or answer to other students or receiving test questions or answers from another student
- Unauthorized possession (physical or digital) of graded assignments
Collaboration
Collaboration is an essential 21st century skill and is encouraged in many classrooms. Certain coursework and assignments such as team projects, papers, and laboratory work may involve collaboration. However, unless expressly permitted or prescribed by the faculty member, students shall not engage in collaboration on graded assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for clarification from the faculty member to what extent, if at all, collaboration with others is allowed.
If you have questions about academic dishonesty, please consult your instructor. Ignorance of this policy does not excuse any of the behaviors defined under Academic Honesty.
Process for assigning consequences and reporting academic dishonesty:
- The teacher will speak to the student; the teacher will inform Division Chair / Assistant Division Chair to review the incident; the teacher will inform and receive an acknowledgement from the student’s parent/guardian; and the teacher will create an Academic Dishonesty Referral that includes the guidance counselor.
- The teacher, division chair/assistance division chair and guidance counselor uses the Consequence Chart below to assign an academic consequence to the student. The academic consequence should be part of the initial communication to the parent.
- Within two school days, the guidance counselor will meet with the student to discuss the academic dishonesty policy. The policy will be communicated via phone to the parent with the student present. The guidance counselor will log the conversation in PowerSchool.
Consequences are cumulative across a student’s high school career:
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(Formative) Minor Assignment |
(Summative) Major Assignment |
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1st Offense |
Zero for the assignment, teacher phone call home, log contact in PowerSchool, notify guidance counselor and notify Asst. Division Chair/Division Chair.
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Zero for the assignment and the opportunity to redo for no more than 80% of the original credit and meeting with guidance counselor, teacher to contact parent and log in PowerSchool, notification of Asst. Division Chair/Division Chair. |
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2nd Offense |
Zero for the assignment, teacher phone call home, log contact in PowerSchool, notify guidance counselor and notify Asst. Division Chair/Division Chair.
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Zero for the assignment, loss of Honors Diploma option, and meeting with guidance counselor, teacher and parent. Log in PowerSchool, log of parent meeting and notification of Asst. Division Chair/Division Chair. Guidance counselor will notify athletic director and/or Asst. Principal of Student Engagement (if applicable). |
|
3rd Offense (and beyond) |
Same as Major Assignment 2nd Offense |
Consequence will be assigned by Division Chair and PPS Coordinator. Zero for the assignment and no option to redo. The guidance counselor will notify Naviance for college admissions. |
Minor and Major assignments will generally be defined as:
- Minor Assignment: Participation, Homework, Practice
- Major Assignment: Labs, Essays, Quizzes, Tests, Products, Presentations
Minor and Major assignments will be specifically defined by each course team and will be indicated on the course syllabus.
Consequences for academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:
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Zero for assignment/assessment |
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Social Suspension (includes Homecoming, senior events, Prom, etc.) |
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Loss of Honors Diploma |
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Loss of NHS option |
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Loss of field trip privileges |
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Loss of walking at graduation |
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Loss of opportunity for Argo-sponsored scholarships |
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Report incident to colleges and/or Naviance |
Additional behavioral consequences may be implemented where appropriate and approved by District Administration.
Student Planner
We believe that in order to fulfill our mission students need to learn organizational skills. We have created a student planner that is not only a resource of information, but also a calendar, a tool to track a student’s location, and an assignment notebook. Inside the student planners are weekly hall passes that allow students to use all the academic and physical functions of the school. ACHS students are always required to carry their planners while at school.