Academic Integrity

Every student is expected to maintain a high standard of academic integrity. Students are expected to do their own work and cite sources where appropriate. Cheating, dishonesty, plagiarism, or any other misrepresentation of the student’s work is a serious offense and contrary to the philosophy of The Charter School of Wilmington. A student’s integrity is vastly more important than the quest for credit.

Every student is given a copy of The Charter School of Wilmington’s “Student Handbook.” This handbook has the following entry under cheating and dishonesty:

“Cheating, plagiarism, forgery, and dishonesty in any form are contrary to the philosophy of The Charter School of Wilmington. To steal, obtain, or provide information from or to others, or from technical sources in order to obtain a higher grade on any academic endeavor is immoral and counter to any ideals of education. If the teacher reasonably suspects that a student cheated in his or her schoolwork, the student will receive a zero for that exam, test or assignment and the teacher will inform the parents.

“Further incidents of cheating in any class may result in a Review Board hearing. The teacher will also document the incident for the students’ record.”

Cheating includes, but not limited to:

· Copying someone else’s work, or allowing someone to copy yours

· Submitting someone else’s work as your own

· Not citing any and all sources that have been used in your schoolwork

· Not identifying all persons that worked on a submitted assignment or project

· Not doing a fair share of a group project but claiming an equal share of the credit

· Looking at a classmate’s answers while a quiz or test is being administered

· Revealing to a classmate the contents of quiz or test that they have not yet taken

· Changing the answers on a quiz or test after it has been graded

Cheating is not the same as collaborating. Helping a classmate to learn is an admirable practice and is encouraged. Discussing a problem or assignment, as permitted, with a classmate is not the same as sharing answers.

Some assignments are designated as group projects. Sharing of ideas and work is encouraged in such settings. In these instances the group would submit one copy of their work, identifying all the students that worked on the project.

Remember that if the teacher reasonably suspects cheating then:

· All students involved will receive a zero for the suspected schoolwork;

· The parents of those students will be contacted; and

· The incident will be documented on each student’s academic record.

Do not participate in any activity that might cause the teacher to suspect cheating.

If a student is aware of (or suspects) cheating, then that student should inform the teacher or other appropriate person (anonymously if desired).

Updated: August 25, 2007