High School Academic Misconduct Attorney Advisor - Vermont

Getting through high school is challenging on its own. Getting accused of academic misconduct can not only make a student's life more difficult in the moment, but it can impact their ability to go to college and get the career they want later in life.

High schools expect honesty of their students and impose significant penalties on those parties who don't choose to appeal potentially-incorrect accusations. Students and families who don't know what rights they have available to them, in turn, may not be able to protect a student's future for sheer unavailability of resources.

Lento Law Firm and Joseph Lento can help students and families address academic misconduct accusations for the sake of the involved student's future.

Academic Misconduct in Vermont High Schools

While there is no statewide understanding of academic misconduct in Vermont, some categories of behavior seem to garner universal disapproval. Should a student be accused of engaging in these behaviors, they may face consequences of varying degrees of severity. These behaviors can include:

Using Unapproved Materials on Exams

Exams are the lifeblood of high school. While some teachers may allow students to use notes on an exam, each student must abide by the rules set forth within their individual classrooms. Any student caught using unapproved materials on an exam may face the consequences as dictated not only by their teachers but as outlined in each high school's individual student handbook. Similar results can fall to students who:

• Procure exam answers without the permission of a supervisory body.
• Pay or bribe another student or body to provide them with the answers to an exam.
• Pay or bribe another student to submit an exam under their name.
• Using unauthorized resources, including online resources, or receiving unauthorized assistance during the exam

Students may also be accused of academic misconduct if it appears they were using unapproved materials while taking a college board exam, including the ACT, SAT, or PSAT. In these cases, consequences will fall both to attending supervisory bodies and to the College Board.

Addressing Plagiarism

No high school operating within the state of Vermont tolerates student plagiarism. While each high school includes its own definition of plagiarism in its student handbook, the term most often covers incidents including:

• The use of another party's thoughts or data as one's own or without appropriate citation.
• Paraphrasing another party's thoughts, data, code, or otherwise using another party's work as a template for one's own without proper citation or permission.
• Inappropriate citations.

This can include self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism sees a student use any materials submitted to another class as part of an assignment for a different class. Self -plagiarism can consist of a total reuse of a student's existing content—for example, if a student turns in the same paper for English class in two different years. But even if a student uses only part of a previous assignment in a new one, they can face accusations if the borrowed content is not cited correctly or approved by the teacher.

A School's Response to Academic Misconduct

Just as each high school's understanding of academic misconduct differs, so too do the high schools in Vermont have different responses to accusations. Most will address academic misconduct accusations by taking the individual student's record into account. Consequences, however, can include:

Teacher-Mandated Consequences

Suppose a student does not have a previous record of academic misconduct accusations. In that case, the teacher who believes that student to have engaged in misconduct may choose to address the situation in the classroom. That said, most teachers will still be expected to fill out an academic misconduct form with their administration to note the situation as they believe it occurred, though there is no statewide policy dictating that this must be the case.

In these cases, students may receive a failing grade for the assignment in question or for the entirety of their class. Students may also be barred from dropping the course in question after their failing grade is submitted. This can negatively impact the student's GPA, making it more difficult for them to apply to college or for academic scholarships.

In-School Consequences

While a teacher or other supervisory body may award a student a failing grade if said student is accused of academic misconduct, the school, too, may choose to issue additional punishments based on the student's existing record. These punishments can include in-school suspensions, extracurricular suspensions, and expulsions.

Revocation of a College Acceptance

A college acceptance does not guarantee a student's ability to attend the university of their choice. If a student is accused of academic misconduct and chooses not to appeal the accusation, then a university may choose to revoke a student's acceptance. While a student may have the opportunity to apply to the university of their choice later down the line, misconduct can make it much more difficult for them to get re-accepted.

Denial of Scholarships

Even if a student retains their acceptance to the university of their choice, third-party institutions may choose to revoke a student's scholarship offer pending an academic misconduct accusation. If this happens, a student may appeal the accusation while also requesting that the third-party institution take their appeal into account. However, the lack of this financial support can make it much more difficult for the student to make it through their first semester of college without significant financial hardship.

Working with an Academic Integrity Attorney-Advisor

Accusations of academic misconduct in Vermont can make a student's life difficult for years after they've left high school. Luckily, students and their families have the option to fight accusations of academic misconduct. No family, however, has to try and present their defense to a Vermont school board on their own. Instead, families and students can reach out to attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm. With help from an academic integrity attorney-advisor, families can better understand what options their student has and how best they can secure that student's future.

Students and families who want to schedule a case consultation with the Lento Law Firm can call 888-535-3686 or fill out our online contact form.

Vermont high schools where Joseph D. Lento can help as your child's student's academic misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following school districts:

A

• Addison Rutland Supervisory Union
• Addison School District
• Albany School District
• Alburg School District
• Arlington School District
• Athens/Grafton Contract School District

B

• Bakersfield School District
• Barnard School District
• Barnet School District
• Barre City School District
• Barre Supervisory District
• Barre Town School District
• Barstow Joint Contract District
• Barton Id School District
• Battenkill Valley S.U.
• Bellows Falls Union High School District 27
• Bennington Id School District
• Benson School District
• Berkshire School District
• Berlin School District
• Bethel School District
• Bfa Union High School 48
• Black River Unified School District 39
• Blue Mountain Supervisory District
• Blue Mountain Unified School District 21
• Bradford Id School District
• Braintree School District
• Brandon School District
• Brattleboro School District
• Brattleboro Union High School District 6
• Bridgewater School District
• Bridport School District
• Brighton School District
• Bristol School District
• Brookfield School District
• Brookline School District
• Brownington School District
• Burke School District
• Burlington School District
• Burlington Supervisory District
• Burr & Burton Seminary

C

• Cabot School District
• Calais School District
• Caledonia Central Supervisory Union
• Caledonia North Supervisory Union
• Cambridge School District
• Canaan School District
• Castleton-Hubbardton Unified School District 42
• Cavendish School District
• Champlain Valley Union High School District 15
• Charleston School District
• Charlotte School District
• Chelsea School District
• Chester-Andover Unified School District 29
• Chittenden East Supervisory Union
• Chittenden South Supervisory Union
• Clarendon School District
• Colchester School District
• Colchester Supervisory District
• Concord School District
• Cornwall School District
• Coventry School District
• Craftsbury School District
• Currier Memorial Unified School District 23

D

• Danville School District
• Derby School District
• Dorset School District
• Dover School District
• Dummerston School District
• Duxbury/Waterbury Union 45

E

• East Haven School District
• East Montpelier School District
• Eden School District
• Elmore School District
• Enosburg Falls Id School District
• Essex Caledonia Supervisory Union
• Essex Community Education Center
• Essex Junction Id School District
• Essex Town School District
• Essex Town Supervisory Union

F

• Fair Haven School District
• Fair Haven Union High School District 16
• Fairfax School District
• Fairfield School District
• Fayston School District
• Ferrisburg School District
• Fletcher School District
• Flood Brook Unified School District 20
• Franklin Central Supervisory Union
• Franklin School District
•   Franklin West Supervisory Union

G

• Georgia School District
• Glover School District
• Granby School District
• Grand Isle School District
• Granville/Hancock Joint Contract District
• Green Mountain Union High School District 35
• Guildhall School District
• Guilford School District

H

• Halifax School District
• Hardwick School District
• Hartford School District
• Hartford Supervisory District
• Hartland School District
• Harwood Union High School District 19
• Hazen Union High School District 26
• Highgate School District
• Hinesburg School District
• Holland School District
• Hyde Park School District

I

• Irasburg School District
• Isle La Motte School District

J

• Jamaica School District
• Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary
• Johnson School District

K

• Killington School District

L

• Lake Region Union High School District 24
• Lakeview Unified School District 43
• Lamoille North Supervisory Union
• Lamoille Union High School District 18
• Leicester School District
• Leland and Gray Union High School District 34
• Lincoln School District
• Lowell School District
• Ludlow School District
• Lunenburg School District
• Lyndon Institute
• Lyndon School District

M

• Manchester School District
• Marlboro School District
• Mettawee Community School
• Middlebury Id School District
• Middlebury Union High School District 3
• Middlesex School District
• Middletown Springs School District
• Mill River Unified School District 40
• Millers Run Unified School District 37
• Milton Id School District
• Missisquoi Valley Union High School District 7
• Monkton School District
• Montgomery School District
• Montpelier School District
• Moretown School District
• Morgan School District
• Morristown School District
• Mount Abraham Union High School District 28
• Mount Anthony Union High School District 14
• Mount Holly School District
• Mount Mansfield Union School District

N

• New Haven School District
• Newark School District
• Newbury School District
• Newfane School District
• Newport City School District
• Newport Town School District
• North Bennington Id School District
• North Country Junior Union High School District 22
• North Country Senior Union High School District 22
• North Hero School District
• Northfield School District
• Norwich School District

O

• Orange North Supervisory Union
• Orange School District
• Orleans Essex North Supervisory Union
• Orleans Id School District
• Orwell School District
• Otter Valley Union High School District 8
• Oxbow Union High School District 30

P

• Patricia Hannaford Career Center School District
• Peacham School District
• Pittsford School District
• Plymouth School District
• Pomfret School District
• Poultney School District
• Pownal School District
• Proctor School District
• Putney School District

R

• Randolph School District
• Randolph Union High School District 2
• Reading School District
• Readsboro School District
• Richford School District
• Ripton School District
• Rochester School District
• Rockingham School District
• Roxbury School District
• Royalton School District
• Rutland City School District
• Rutland Town School District

S

• Salisbury School District
• Shaftsbury School District
• Sharon School District
• Shelburne School District
• Sheldon School District
• Shoreham School District
• Shrewsbury School District
• South Burlington School District
• South Hero School District
• Spaulding Union High School District 41
• Springfield School District
• Stamford School District
• Starksboro School District
• Stockbridge School District
• Stowe School District
• Strafford School District
• Sudbury School District
• Sunderland School District
• Sutton School District
• Swanton School District

T

• Thetford Academy
• Thetford School District
• Tinmouth School District
• Townshend School District
• Troy School District
• Tunbridge School District
• Twinfield Unified School District 33

U

• Union High School District 32

V

• Vergennes UESD 44
• Vergennes Union High School District 5
• Vernon School District

W

• Waits River Valley Unified School District 36
• Waitsfield School District
• Walden School District
• Wallingford School District
• Wardsboro School District
• Warren School District
• Washington Northeast Supervisory Union
• Washington School District
• Washington South Supervisory Union
• Washington West Supervisory Union
• Waterford School District
• Waterville School District
• Weathersfield School District
• Wells School District
• West Rutland School District
• West Windsor School District
• Westford School District
• Westminster School District
• Weybridge School District
• Whiting School District
• Whitingham/Wilmington Joint District
• Williamstown School District
• Williston School District
• Wilmington School District
• Windham School District
• Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
• Windham Southwest Supervisory Union
• Windsor Central Supervisory Union
• Windsor School District
• Winooski School District
• Winooski Supervisory District
• Wolcott School District
• Woodbury School District
• Woodford School District
• Woodstock School District
• Woodstock Union High School District 4
• Worcester School District

It is critical to make certain academic misconduct charges at your child's Vermont high school are handled properly and that the accused student's interests and rights are protected from as early as possible during the investigative and disciplinary process.  One reason, among many, is because even at high schools where a finding of responsibility for academic misconduct is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at high schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused student is found responsible or not responsible for academic misconduct.

Unfortunately, some parents make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when their child is accused of academic misconduct.  Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their school will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth.  In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, being called to answer for alleged academic misconduct would not exist.

Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at schools throughout the nation for many years, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused high school student's academic future is on the line. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as an academic misconduct advisor to high school students facing investigations and disciplinary cases in Vermont and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National High School Academic Misconduct Defense Attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.