Policies

Academic Integrity Policy

Policy Goals:

In keeping with the school’s role as a center for all types of learning, including the building of character
for life after high school, Floyd Central High School resolves to teach all students the meaning and
relevance of integrity in their academic and professional careers. The goal of the Floyd Central Academic
Integrity Policy is to create a school community in which every member is assured that integrity and
fairness are the norm, that violations of this norm are not tolerated, and that actions that undermine this
expectation are handled firmly, consistently, and in a timely manner. In the end, the purpose of this policy
is to create a school where each student can proudly state of each assignment: This work is my own. I
have neither used, received, nor given aid unauthorized by a teacher when turning in completed work.

Definition of Academic Dishonesty

Definition of Academic Dishonesty

• Academic dishonesty (malpractice) is any attempt to gain academic credit or recognition to which
  one is not entitled or to assist others to do so. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
• Copying, or allowing the copying of, graded or ungraded work.
• Collaborating with others beyond what the classroom teacher (authorized) allows.
• Gaining unauthorized prior knowledge of assessments or providing such knowledge to others.
• Transmitting or receiving information (texting, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) related to the content of graded
  or ungraded work.
• Misrepresenting situations for academic gain, including as a means to receive additional time to
  complete graded or ungraded work.
• Falsifying data or sources in graded or ungraded work.
• Manipulating the system to gain an unfair advantage (i.e. attempting to confuse the Scantron machine).
• Altering a grade, whether on an individual assignment or in student records (gradebook).
• Failing to comply with the instructions of the proctor or other member of the school’s staff responsible
  for the conduct of the evaluation.
• Impersonating another candidate
• Stealing examination papers
• Using an unauthorized calculator during an examination.
• Violating the rules of school-sponsored academic competitions or assignments.
• Plagiarism—the stealing or using of others’ words, original ideas, or work (images) without crediting
  the original source. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:
• Using others’ words, phrases, or work without giving accurate documentation.
• Downloading information from the internet in part or in whole (global plagiarism) and inserting it into
  one’s work without giving proper credit to sources.
• Copying the structure and organizational pattern created by another writer.

As members of the FCHS community, all teachers, students, administrators, and parents have the
responsibility to work together to ensure the Academic Integrity Policy is followed and upheld and that
the purpose of education is the development of knowledge, skills, and habits—not just the accumulation
of points for a grade.

Teachers have the responsibility to:

• Enforce the Academic Integrity Policy by reporting every incident that they believe, based on
  evidence, and represents a violation of the policy.
• Hold themselves to the same standards of integrity that they expect of their students.
• Provide expectations regarding student work in the course syllabus, including what is permissible in
  terms of collaboration.
• Give rigorous, relevant, and equitable assignments and assessments.
• Respond sensitively and in a timely manner to student and parent inquiries regarding course content
  and expectations.
• Refer students to resources or provide help when asked or when it is apparent that students are
  struggling in the course.
• Keep accurate records of student performance
• Use plagiarism detection software when appropriate.

Students have the Responsiblity to:

• Read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy, including their own teachers’ expectations as
  set forth in those teachers’ syllabi.
• Clarify with the appropriate teacher any questions they have about whether a particular action is
  acceptable before taking that action.
• Take an active role in their own education—to choose classes at appropriate levels, to seek help
  when they need it, and to avoid placing themselves in situations that make unacceptable behavior
  tempting.
• Report to a staff member any violations of the Academic Integrity Policy a student observes:
  student’s identity will remain confidential. Administrators have the responsibilities to:
• Assist teachers in providing authentic assignments and assessments.
• Make the Academic Integrity Policy available to all students, teachers, and parents.
• Keep accurate, up-to-date records on Academic Integrity Policy violations for the duration of each
  student’s high school tenure.
• Enforce the Academic Integrity Policy and apply consequences consistently and in a timely manner.

Parents Have the Responsibility to:

• Familiarize them with the Academic Integrity Policy and discuss the policy with their child.
• Familiarize themselves with individual teacher policies/expectations and discuss them with their child.
• be actively involved and engaged in what their child is learning, but avoid providing assistance that
  would be in conflict with the Academic Integrity Policy.
• Support school consequences for Academic Integrity Policy violations.
• Be sensitive to the pressure students face and adjust expectations accordingly.
• (Information use to create this policy was provided by DuPont Manual High School and the IB
  Malpractice policy

In a situation involving an IB Candidate that is suspected of malpractice prior to signing the cover sheet
verifying that it is his or her own work, the school’s due process for violating the Academic Integrity policy
will be followed. In the event that the malpractice is discovered after the signing of the verification sheet,
the IB Coordinator will follow due process steps listed below:

• The IB Diploma Coordinator will inform the IB Organization of the specific incident and will conduct
  a full investigation and provide the IB Organization with a relevant document concerning the case.
• Candidates suspected of malpractice will be invited, through the DP Coordinator, to present a written
  explanation or defense.
• Cases of suspected malpractice will be presented to members of the school’s Academic Integrity
  Committee on Violations. It will review the evidence collected during the investigation. The committee
  will decide whether to dismiss the allegation, uphold it or ask for further investigations to be made.
• The Academic Integrity Committee on Violations consists of the following: Four teacher members
  and an Assistant Principal.
• If the Academic Committee deems evidence of malpractice insufficient, the allegation will be dismissed
  and a grade will be awarded in the normal way.
• If the Academic Committee on Violations decides that a case of malpractice has been established, no
  grade will be awarded in the subject(s) concerned. No IB diploma will be awarded to the candidate,
  but a certificate will be awarded for other subject(s) in which no malpractice has occurred.
• If a case of malpractice is very serious, the Academic Committee on Violations is entitled to decide
  that the candidate that the candidate will not be permitted to register for any future examination
  session.
• If the candidate has already been found guilty of malpractice in a previous session, this will normally
  lead to disqualification from participation in any future examination sessions.
• An IB diploma, or certificate, may be withdrawn from a candidate at any time if malpractice is
  subsequently established.

Dress Code

It is expected that students will wear clothing that is neat and clean while attending classes and school
functions. Appearance, including dress, make-up, and hairstyles, may be regulated by the school when
the health of safety of the student is endangered; the appearance is disruptive, and thus distracting to
the educational process; or there is an existing ordinance or law. Restrictions include but are not limited
to the following:

• Clothing which has holes or rips any higher than the student’s knees
• Skirts or shorts that are considered to be distracting or distasteful; any top with a low cut, strapless dress, or muscle shirts
• Shirts should be long enough and pants high enough that one’s stomach does not show.
• Hair that is not a natural color
• Piercings that are anywhere other than the ear are not to be visible.
• Pants should be worn at or above the top of the hip and covering all underwear.
• Shoes or sandals must be worn at all times.
• Sweatshirt hoods may not cover the head.
• Clothing of accessories with vulgar or suggestive expressions or that promotes alcohol (including establishments that sell alcohol) drugs, or tobacco in any language is prohibited.
• Clothing shall be free of symbols or slogans designed to humiliate others or which may be considered racist, sexist, or ethnically derogatory. This includes, but is not limited to symbols like the confederate flag.
• Hairstyles such as Mohawks that draw overt attention to itself or that distracts from the primary purpose of school.
• The sagging of pants.