Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy

As you know, at Katella High School, we value academic integrity immensely and do not permit any type of dishonesty or deception that unfairly, improperly or illegally enhances the grade on an individual or group assignment or a final course grade.  Therefore, we expect every student to interpret the requirement of academic honesty and integrity, broadly and in good faith. The following is a description of forms of cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of dishonesty that may arise.  If students have any doubt as to whether a particular act constitutes academic dishonesty, they should ask the teacher before proceeding.

Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

Cheating is defined as copying from others; having or using notes, formulas, or other information in a programmable calculator or other programmable device; having or using a communication device such as a cell phone, pager, PDA or electronic translator to send or receive unauthorized information; having or using a cheat sheet; altering a graded exam and re-submitting it for a higher grade; working together on a take home exam/assignment unless approved by the teacher; and gaining or providing unauthorized access to the examination materials.

Plagiarism is defined as copying part or all of another person’s work and submitting it as your own, acting as a provider of a paper or papers for others, submitting substantial portions of the same work in more than one class without consulting with the teachers, failing to use quotation marks where appropriate, failing to properly cite paraphrased materials with footnotes or a  bibliography, making up data for an experiment, citing non-existent sources, giving and/or getting improper assistance on an assignment meant to be individual work, and using the services of a  commercial term paper company, and using the services of another student.

Note:  Attempted cheating, even when unsuccessful, will be treated as academic dishonesty.  Simply having observable possession of any prohibited or unauthorized information or device during an exam, even if it is not used, is an act of academic dishonesty.  It will be dealt with as such.  Tampering with teacher grades (on assignments, in grade books, or in computer databases) will result in reduction of grade, possibly including failure of the course. 

Students that violate the Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy will receive the following: a zero on the assignment, a referral in their permanent record, an On Campus Suspension, and a phone call home.  Second offenses will be handled in the same manner as well as the possibility of receiving a failing grade for the class and Off Campus Suspension.