Handbook

Over the past several years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a growing topic of conversation among students and staff. While AI offers many positive and innovative applications for students, it is important to establish clear expectations for its use. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the following policy will be implemented. Our goal is to educate students on the appropriate and ethical use of AI, as well as to clearly define what constitutes academic dishonesty.

Academic honesty means being honest in your schoolwork in a way that doesn’t break the rules of fairness and integrity. This includes things like cheating on tests, copying someone else’s work and claiming it as your own (plagiarism), using AI tools in ways your teacher hasn’t approved, or giving false information—such as making up data or sources. These actions are all attempts to gain an unfair advantage and are not allowed in a learning environment.

Generative AI tools—like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Photomath—can be helpful, but only when used in the right way and with teacher permission. Misusing these tools is also considered academic dishonesty.  See table below for allowed and not allowed AI tool use: 

Allowed with Instructor Consent

• Brainstorming, developing, and refining your own ideas.

• Fine tuning your research questions.
• Searching for reliable information related to your topic.
• Drafting an outline to help organize your thoughts.
• Reviewing grammar and writing style using appropriate tools that do not alter or rewrite your original content

Not Allowed

• Using AI to complete tasks that are meant to reflect your own thinking, such as discussion posts, group work, or assignments submitted through platforms like Canvas, Zoom, or Webex.
• Having AI generate a draft of a writing assignment.
• Using AI to write any part of your assignment, including sentences, paragraphs, or full essays.

DCE Junior High will strictly enforce the following expectations:

• Students are responsible for making sure any information they submit from an AI tool is accurate, follows copyright laws, and does not include false, biased, or inappropriate content.

• If AI tools are used, students must clearly show that properly citing the source—such as in MLA or APA format—to follow school academic honesty policies.
• If a student is unsure whether a certain use of AI is allowed, always ask a teacher before submitting your work.

Teachers will follow the protocol below if any student has been found to be academically dishonest within the duration of the current school year:

First Offense:  

• The teacher will talk with the student about the academically dishonest assignment.
• The originally submitted assignment/assessment will receive a zero.
• The student will be allowed to redo the assignment/assessment for up to full credit.  
• The staff member will inform the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and will write a major referral in Infinite Campus as “Academic Dishonesty First Offense.”

 Second Offense: 

• The teacher will talk with the student about the academically dishonest assignment/assessment.
• The student will earn a zero grade in Canvas. The student will have the opportunity to redo an assessment for a grade up to a 5/10 in Canvas.
• The staff member will inform the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and will write a major referral in Infinite Campus as “Academic Dishonesty Second Offense.”
• The student will conference with an administrator and will be issued a school consequence. 
• The student will be referred to the athletic/activities director for violating the athletic/activities code of conduct. 

Third Offense: 

• The teacher will talk with the student about the academically dishonest assignment/assessment.
• The student will earn a zero grade in Canvas and will not be allowed to redo the assignment/assessment for credit.
• The staff member will inform the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and will write a major referral in Infinite Campus as “Academic Dishonesty Third Offense.”
• The student will conference with the teacher, parent(s), and administrator and will be issued a school consequence.
• The student will be referred to the athletic/activities director for violating the athletic/activities code of conduct.

 
*Subsequent offenses will be handled directly by administration.
 

Ninth grade students may earn an academic letter by satisfying the following criteria: 1) Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 for the year. 2) Must have demonstrated scholarship beyond what is required in class. This may be done by participating on an academic team or by pursuing academic improvement, such as entering a contest or by participating in an academic project promoted by a department or teacher that was not part of the graded requirements for a course. Further details regarding the requirements are available in the Student Services office. Letters are sent from the Senior High in August to those students with qualifying grade point averages.

Eighth and ninth grade students may participate in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). To be eligible for membership consideration, students must be in the first semester of eighth or ninth grade and receive and maintain an accumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for the previous 2 semesters. Eligible students will be mailed an interest letter in September and must attend a meeting to receive an activity form. The Activity Form must be returned to the Student Services Office by the second Friday in October. The Faculty Council will evaluate these forms and consider leadership, service, citizenship, and character to determine membership. More information on  NJHS may be obtained in the Student Services Office.
 

• Extended Learning Time (ELT) 8th Period Daily
• Before and after school support
• After school homework club
• Classroom teachers
• School counselors
• IMC (Library)
• SmartMusic – available in the music rooms