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Academic Integrity Policy

What is Academic Integrity?

International Baccalaureate states: Academic integrity is a guiding principle in education and a choice to act in a responsible way whereby others can have trust in us as individuals. It is the foundation for ethical decision-making and behaviour in the production of legitimate, authentic and honest scholarly work. (“Academic Integrity”)

CVUSD Board Policy 5131.9 states: The Governing Board believes that academic honesty and personal integrity are fundamental components of a student's education and character development. The Board expects that students will not cheat, lie, plagiarize or commit other acts of academic dishonesty. All students and parents must read and sign the CVUSD Acceptable Student Use Policy (AUP) for use of computer networks, including the internet. The policy states that if a student violates the AUP that potential consequences include loss of computer privileges and/or school disciplinary action as stated in the CVUSD Rights and Responsibilities/Discipline Handbook, school and classroom rules, and/or prosecution under state and federal law.

What is our Philosophy: Why do we need Academic Integrity?

International Baccalaureate states: During the learning journey, students need support in understanding that academic integrity is fundamental in their development into responsible and caring world citizens of the future. By supporting learners, a culture of self-respect and respect for others can be nurtured and developed. (Academic integrity policy IB 2019, p. 5)

To develop respect for others. Students who understand how knowledge is built will understand that it is acceptable to use the ideas, words or work of others. However, following good academic practice it is expected that information is appropriately acknowledged.

  • An IB learner is Principled - we give credit where it is due, honoring the work of others. “We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences” (International Baccalaureate)
  • An IB learner is Reflective - we thoughtfully consider the sources of the knowledge we are building. 
  • Communicators - we collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups. (International Baccalaureate)

CVUSD board Policy 5131.9 provides a philosophy for academic honesty: The Conejo Valley Unified School District believes that academic honesty requires adherence to ethical principles. Administrators, faculty, students, and parents are engaged in a partnership to uphold the values of integrity, personal accountability, and respect for the rights of others.

  1. Parents should emphasize that the most important measure of an education is what is learned and that the grades a student receives should reflect actual learning.
  1. Students should realize that the final value of an education is what is learned, that there is real value in integrity, and that the grades received should be the result of honest effort.
  1. Teachers must be cognizant that academic dishonesty can be controlled, that guidelines can be implemented, and that grades mean little when dishonesty is accepted and learning is thereby devalued.
  2. Parents, teachers, and students need to understand that allowing others to be dishonest without doing something about it is the same as endorsing it and that doing work for or giving answers to others is a form of dishonesty.

 

What are the Established Best Practices in our learning community?

International Baccalaureate Program Standards and Practices States:

Culture 3.1: The school implements and reviews an academic integrity policy that makes the school’s philosophy clear and is aligned with IB guidelines. (0301-03-0100)

Culture 3.2: The school clearly describes in its academic integrity policy the rights and responsibilities of all members of the school community, what constitutes good practice and misconduct, and the actions that are to be taken if there are transgressions. (0301-03-0200)

Culture 3.3: The school articulates responsibilities for teaching a variety of practices related to academic integrity, and reflects its five fundamentals: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. (0301-03-0300)

Culture 3.4: The school ensures that relevant support materials, resources and structures related to the academic integrity policy are implemented. (0301-03-0400)

Culture 3.5: The school monitors and evaluates the impact of the academic integrity policy to ensure that it regularly informs learning and teaching across the curriculum and that school’s procedures are transparent, fair and consistent. (0301-03-0500) (International Baccalaureate Organization, PSP)

CVUSD Board Policy 5131.9 gives guidance on preventative measures: Academic honesty requires a clear statement of the District policy by the teacher, student/parent awareness of the policy, student compliance with the regulations, and consistent enforcement of the policy by school staff. The best way to deal with dishonesty is to prevent it before it  happens. To this end, within the first week of each class, teachers and students will discuss expectations and the importance of doing honest work. Students, parents, and faculty need to understand that they must support each other in order to maintain an atmosphere of openness and honesty.

  1. Students will be informed of evaluation procedures and practices, as well as consequences of dishonesty. Permissible cooperative learning activities will be explained.
  2. Effective classroom procedures to discourage dishonesty will be consistently implemented by teachers.
  3. Uniform administrative regulations to encourage honest work will be in place.
  4. Students will be informed of responsible and acceptable use of technology through the District’s AUP training.

 

What are the expectations and responsibilities?

International Baccalaureate states: Academic integrity is a responsibility of the whole IB community. Academic integrity means creating an “ethical culture” within the whole Cypress learning community (teachers, staff, parents, students). (Academic integrity policy, International Baccalaureate)

CVUSD Board Policy 131.09: All students and parents must read and sign the CVUSD Acceptable Student Use Policy (AUP) for use of computer networks, including the internet.

Cypress Elementary School: Additionally, Cypress technology rules will be explained to students and Cypress students and parents must sign the Cypress Technology Rules.

 

How does the learning community address Student Academic Misconduct?

International Baccalaureate states: The IB defines student academic misconduct as deliberate or inadvertent behaviour that has the potential to result in the student, or anyone else, gaining an unfair advantage in one or more components of assessment.

Behaviour that may disadvantage another student is also regarded as academic misconduct. It also includes any act that potentially threatens the integrity of IB examinations and assessments that happen before, during or after the completion of the assessment or examination, paper-based or digital. This includes behaviour in school, out of school and online.

CVUSD Board Policy 131.09: Teachers in elementary school, especially in the primary grades, should take every opportunity to introduce and reinforce the philosophy of academic honesty and to define clearly what constitutes dishonesty.

  1. Primary Grades (K-3):
    1. When the teacher becomes aware of a child’s dishonesty, the teacher will take corrective measures. 
    2. Parents must be notified on the second offense.
  2. Upper Grades (4-5):
    1. First Infraction
      1. The teacher will conference with the student, who will not receive credit for the assignment. 
    2. Second Infraction
      1. The teacher will conference with the student, who will not receive credit for the assignment. 
      2. The principal will be notified. 
      3. Parents will be notified by the teacher or principal. 
    3. Third Infraction
      1. The teacher will conference with the student, who will not receive credit for the assignment. 
      2. The principal will be notified.
      3. Parents will be notified by the teacher or principal.
      4. The principal and/or teacher will refer the student to the Student Study Team (SST) for review and recommendations at the next SST meeting.

Consequences for grades K-8 will not be cumulative from year to year. (EDUCATION CODE 35291-35291.5 Rules)

 

Works Cited

International Baccalaureate. “Academic integrity policy.” International Baccalaureate, 2019, https://ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/programmes/shared-resources/pdfs/academic-integrity-policy-en.pdf. Accessed 8 December 2025.

International Baccalaureate. “IB learner profile.” IB learner profile, International Baccalaureate Organization, 2013, https://ibo.org/contentassets/fd82f70643ef4086b7d3f292cc214962/learner-profile-en.pdf. Accessed 8 12 2025.

International Baccalaureate Organization. “Programme standards and practices.” International Baccalaureate, April 2020, https://ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/become-an-ib-school/pdfs/programme-standards-and-practices-2020-en.pdf. Accessed 10 November 2025.

CVUSD Board Policy - EDUCATION CODE 35291-35291.5 Rules. “Policy: BP5131.9 Section: 5000 - Students.” Academic Honesty, CVUSD: (8/08 9/15) 8/18, https://conejousd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/home/policies/policydoc/c080a442-bab3-420c-9d68-867016ac5c08.

International Baccalaureate. “Academic integrity policy.” Academic Integrity, 2019, https://ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/programmes/shared-resources/pdfs/academic-integrity-policy-en.pdf. Accessed 8 December 2025.

International Baccalaureate. “IB learner profile.” IB learner profile, International Baccalaureate Organization, 2013, https://ibo.org/contentassets/fd82f70643ef4086b7d3f292cc214962/learner-profile-en.pdf. Accessed 8 12 2025.

International Baccalaureate Organization. “Programme standards and practices.” International Baccalaureate, April 2020, https://ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/become-an-ib-school/pdfs/programme-standards-and-practices-2020-en.pdf. Accessed 10 November 2025.