High School Academic Misconduct Attorney Advisor - Wisconsin

As a parent, you never imagine your child is capable of academic misconduct, which is why you may feel blindsided when the school sends home the notice of your child's academic misconduct and subsequent disciplinary action. It can feel like you failed as a parent, but the reality is, many academic misconduct allegations are inaccurate. The schools are so busy with other issues they don't thoroughly investigate the accusations, which subjects your child to unnecessary trauma and reputational harm. What if it didn't have to be like that? What if you could protect your child from the needless drama? Hiring an attorney to advise you on your rights will guarantee your child doesn't slip through the cracks of the system. An attorney-advisor will work tirelessly to ensure your child's school is protecting their rights.

What is Academic Misconduct?

In most states, the term academic misconduct covers several behaviors that violate the educational guidelines your school sets in place. Each school in Wisconsin has a different definition of their academic integrity standards, but almost all include the following:

• Plagiarism – trying to pass off someone else's work or ideas as their own.
• Cheating – copying someone else's work; turning in someone else's work for credit; using an unfair advantage to complete an assignment without the teacher's permission.
• Paraphrasing – the rewording of text to give the gist of the quote without citing where the student found it.
• Duplicating work for multiple assignments.
• Supporting another student's academic misconduct – i.e., letting them copy your work.
• Unauthorized collaboration - working with another student (or other students) for an assignment or exam without express approval
• Misusing intellectual property.
• Disrupting the class and the teacher's ability to instruct the class.

What is the Process for Students Accused of Academic Misconduct in Wisconsin?

The process for students accused of academic misconduct varies by district. According to the United States Department of Education, schools are allowed to decide what behavior is considered “minor” and what is considered “major.” This designation is important because, depending on the level of severity, your child could be subject to different forms of punishment. The classroom teacher would manage minor actions, but the office administration would manage major actions.

Milwaukee School District

In Milwaukee School District, the largest district in Wisconsin, students are held to a specific honor code. They define academic misconduct as actions that would result in the candidate having an unfair advantage in their assignment. The district states that if they find a student to have conducted academic misconduct, plagiarism, paraphrasing, collusion, duplication of work for multiple assignments, and misuse of intellectual property, they will be subject to certain sanctions.

Suppose a student is found to have violated any of these guidelines. In that case, they will be given a failing grade and lose certain school privileges, like the use of the classroom and library computers. Their teacher, department chair, and administration office will work together to decide how the student should replace the work. Milwaukee School District affords its students the opportunity to turn their own work in even after the student is subject to these accusations. Students are only up for expulsion if they repeatedly behave in a way that violates the School Board's or the school's rules, and the interest of the school requires the student's expulsion.

Madison Metropolitan School District

Madison Metropolitan School District lays out specific expulsion guidelines. The Positive Behavior Support (PBS) framework helps them create positive learning environments for all their students. When a student violates this framework consistently, and the school's best interest is at stake, the school may decide to expel them. The recommendations are the sole responsibility of the Principal, Assistant Principal, or the Assistant Director for Student Services. The teacher or staff must advise one of these school delegates of the student's behavior. The representative will then investigate the situation and review the facts, and then notify their parents.

If the school still recommends the student for expulsion, the delegate will converse with the Chief of Schools, the Executive Director for Student Services, and the Coordinator of Progressive Discipline. The school administration may give the student the option to complete an expulsion abeyance program. If they are, and they don't complete the program, the school will hold a hearing. At this point, the school will notify the student and their parents that they can have counsel present to advocate for the student.

If your child is accused of academic misconduct in any county in Wisconsin, having an attorney-advisor on your side from the beginning can help mitigate the long-lasting effects of such an accusation. Even though most counties won't advise you of this right until the hearing for expulsion or suspension, you are entitled to counsel from the start.

Consequences of Academic Misconduct

If the school accuses your child of academic misconduct, they will suffer from long-lasting consequences even if they are found not to have committed the actions. For instance, a student who is wrongly accused of academic misconduct in Wisconsin may start to exhibit the very behavior the school accused them of because the accusation already tarnished their reputation. Why should they continue to abide by the academic code of conduct if their teachers, classmates, and administration already feel they have violated it? Additionally, the reputational harm they experience from these accusations can be quite damaging to their self-esteem. Low self-esteem can lead to anxiety and depression, substance abuse, and failing grades.

The long-term consequences go beyond the immediate effects these allegations will have on your child. If the school determines that your child conducted the behavior in question, they may not be able to take advanced placement courses that make them competitive for college admissions. They will also have to explain this academic misconduct on every college and graduate school application for the rest of their life.

Why you Should Hire an Attorney-Advisor

An attorney-advisor can show up from the start, gathering evidence and witnesses to protect your child's rights. They will ensure your child's right to fair and just due process doesn't slip through the cracks of a busy school district.

Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are skilled legal representatives who've helped thousands of students across the country avoid the long-term consequences of these allegations. They will work tirelessly to build a solid defense for your child, ensuring you both know your options every step of the way. Your child's future can still shine. Call 888-535-3686 today to schedule a consultation.

Wisconsin 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

• Abbotsford School District
• Academy of Learning & Leadership
• Adams-Friendship Area School District
• Albany School District
• Algoma School District
• Alma Center School District
• Alma School District
• Almond-Bancroft School District
• Altoona School District
• Amery School District
• Antigo School District
• Appleton Area School District
• Arcadia School District
• Argyle School District
• Arrowhead UHS School District
• Ashland School District
• Ashwaubenon School District
• Athens School District
• Auburndale School District
• Augusta School District

B

• Baldwin-Woodville Area School District
• Bangor School District
• Baraboo School District
• Barneveld School District
• Barron Area School District
• Bayfield School District
• Beaver Dam Unified School District
• Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School District
• Belleville School District
• Belmont School District
• Beloit School District
• Beloit Turner School District
• Benton School District
• Berlin School District
• Big Foot UHS School District
• Birchwood School District
• Black Hawk School District
• Black River Falls School District
• Blair-Taylor School District
• Bloomer School District
• Bonduel School District
• Boscobel Area School District
• Boulder Junction J1 School District
• Bowler School District
• Boyceville Community School District
• Brighton School District
• Brillion School District
• Bristol School District
• Brodhead School District
• Brown Deer School District
• Bruce School District
• Bruce Guadalupe School District
• Burlington Area School District
• Business & Economics Academy of Milwaukee (BEAM)
• Butternut School District

C

• Cadott Community School District
• Cambria-Friesland School District
• Cambridge School District
• Cameron School District
• Campbellsport School District
• Capital West Academy
• Cashton School District
• Cassville School District
• Cedar Grove-Belgium Area School District
• Cedarburg School District
• Central City Cyberschool
• Central/Westosha UHS School District
• Chequamegon School District
• Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Area School District
• Chilton School District
• Chippewa Falls Area School District
• Clayton School District
• Clear Lake School District
• Clinton Community School District
• Clintonville School District
• Cochrane-Fountain City School District
• Colby School District
• Coleman School District
• Colfax School District
• Columbus School District
• Cornell School District
• Crandon School District
• Crivitz School District
• Cuba City School District
• Cudahy School District
• Cumberland School District
• C. Everest Area School District

D

• Darlington Community School District
• Deerfield Community School District
• De Forest Area School District
• De Pere School District
• De Soto Area School District
• Delavan-Darien School District
• Denmark School District
• Dodgeland School District
• Dodgeville School District
• Dover #1 School District
• Drummond School District
• Durand School District

E

• East Troy Community School District
• Eau Claire Area School District
• Edgar School District
• Edgerton School District
• Elcho School District
• Eleva-Strum School District
• Elk Mound Area School District
• Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah School District
• Elkhorn Area School District
• Ellsworth Community School District
• Elmbrook School District
• Elmwood School District
• Erin School District
• Evansville Community School District

F

• Fall Creek School District
• Fall River School District
• Fennimore Community School District
• Flambeau School District
• Florence School District
• Fond du Lac School District
• Fontana J8 School District
• Fort Atkinson School District
• Fox Point J2 School District
• Franklin Public School District
• Frederic School District
• Freedom Area School District
• Friess Lake School District

G

• Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District
• Geneva J4 School District
• Genoa City J2 School District
• Germantown School District
• Gibraltar School District
• Gillett School District
• Gilman School District
• Gilmanton School District
• Glendale-River Hills School District
• Glenwood City School District
• Goodman-Armstrong School District
• Grafton School District
• Granton School District
• Grantsburg School District
• Green Bay Area Public School District, Wisconsin
• Green Lake School District
• Greendale School District
• Greenfield School District
• Greenwood School District
• Gresham School District

H

• Hamilton School District
• Hartford J1 School District
• Hartford UHS School District
• Hartland-Lakeside J3 School District
• Hayward Community School District
• Herman School District
• Highland School District
• Hilbert School District
• Hillsboro School District
• Holmen School District
• Horicon School District
• Hortonville School District
• Howard-Suamico School District
• Howards Grove School District
• Hudson School District
• Hurley School District
• Hustisford School District

I

• Independence School District
• Iola-Scandinavia School District
• Iowa-Grant School District
• Ithaca School District

J

• Janesville School District
• Jefferson School District
• Johnson Creek School District
• Juda School District

K

• Kaukauna School District
• Kenosha School District
• Kettle Moraine School District
• Kewaskum School District
• Kewaunee School District
• Kickapoo Area School District
• Kiel Area School District
• Kimberly Area School District
• King's Academy
• Kohler School District

L

• La Crosse School District
• La Farge School District
• Lac du Flameau School District
• Ladysmith-Hawkins School District
• Lake Country School District
• Lake Geneva J1 School District
• Lake Geneva-Genoa City UHS School District
• Lake Holcombe School District
• Lake Mills Area School District
• Lakeland UHS School District
• Lancaster Community School District
• Laona School District
• Lena School District
• Linn J4 School District
• Linn J6 School District
• Little Chute Area School District
• Lodi School District
• Lomira School District
• Loyal School District
• Luck School District
• Luxemburg-Casco School District

M

• Madison Metropolitan School District
• Manawa School District
• Manitowoc School District
• Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District
• Maple School District
• Marathon School District
• Marinette School District
• Marion School District
• Markesan School District
• Marshall School District
• Marshfield School District
• Mauston School District
• Mayville School District
• McFarland School District
• Medford Area School District
• Mellen School District
• Melrose-Mindoro School District
• Menasha School District
• Menominee Indian School District
• Menomonee Falls School District
• Menomonie Area School District
• Mequon-Thiensville School District
• Mercer School District
• Merrill Area School District
• Merton Community School District
• Middleton-Cross Plains School District
• Milton School District
• Milwaukee Academy of Science
• Milwaukee College Preparatory School
• Milwaukee Public School District
• Milwaukee Renaissance Academy
• Mineral Point School District
• Minocqua J1 School District
• Mishicot School District
• Mondovi School District
• Monona Grove School District
• Monroe School District
• Montello School District
• Monticello School District
• Mosinee School District
• Mount Horeb Area School District
• Mukwonago School District
• Muskego-Norway School District

N

• Necedah School District
• Neenah Joint School District
• Neillsville School District
• Nekoosa School District
• Neosho J3 School District
• New Auburn School District
• New Berlin School District
• New Glarus School District
• New Holstein School District
• New Lisbon School District
• New London School District
• New Richmond School District
• Niagara School District
• Nicolet UHS School District
• Norris School District
• North Cape School District
• North Crawford School District
• North Fond du Lac School District
• North Lake School District
• North Lakeland School District
• Northern Ozaukee School District
• Northland Pines School District
• Northwood School District
• Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District
• Norway J7 School District

O

• Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District
• Oakfield School District
• Oconomowoc Area School District
• Oconto Falls School District
• Oconto School District
• Omro School District
• Onalaska School District
• Oostburg School District
• Oregon School District
• Osceola School District
• Oshkosh Area School District
• Osseo-Fairchild School District
• Owen-Withee School District

P

• Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
• Pardeeville School District
• Paris J1 School District
• Parkview School District
• Pecatonica Area School District
• Pepin Area School District
• Peshtigo School District
• Pewaukee School District
• Phelps School District
• Phillips School District
• Pittsville School District
• Platteville School District
• Plum City School District
• Plymouth School District
• Port Edwards School District
• Port Washington-Saukville School District
• Portage Community School District
• Potosi School District
• Poynette School District
• Prairie du Chien Area School District
• Prairie Farm School District
• Prentice School District
• Prescott School District
• Princeton School District
• Pulaski Community School District

R

• Racine Unified School District
• Randall J1 School District
• Randolph School District
• Random Lake School District
• Raymond School District
• Reedsburg School District
• Reedsville School District
• Rhinelander School District
• Rib Lake School District
• Rice Lake Area School District
• Richfield J1 School District
• Richland School District
• Richmond School District
• Rio Community School District
• Ripon School District
• River Falls School District
• River Ridge School District
• River Valley School District
• Riverdale School District
• Rosendale-Brandon School District
• Rosholt School District
• Royall School District
• Rubicon J6 School District

S

• Saint Croix Central School District
• Saint Croix Falls School District
• Saint Francis School District
• Salem School District
• Sauk Prairie School District
• School for Early Development & Achievement
• Seeds of Health Elementary
• Seneca School District
• Sevastopol School District
• Seymour Community School District
• Sharon J11 School District
• Shawano-Gresham School District
• Sheboygan Area School District
• Sheboygan Falls School District
• Shell Lake School District
• Shiocton School District
• Shorewood School District
• Shullsburg School District
• Silver Lake J1 School District
• Siren School District
• Slinger School District
• Solon Springs School District
• Somerset School District
• South Milwaukee School District
• South Shore School District
• Southern Door County School District
• Southwestern Wisconsin School District
• Sparta Area School District
• Spencer School District
• Spooner Area School District
• Spring Valley School District
• Stanley-Boyd Area School District
• Stevens Point Area Public School District
• Stockbridge School District
• Stone Bank School District
• Stoughton Area School District
• Stratford School District
• Sturgeon Bay School District
• Sun Prairie Area School District
• Superior School District
• Suring School District
• Swallow School District

T

• Tenor High School
• Thorp School District
• Three Lakes School District
• Tigerton School District
• Tomah Area School District
• Tomahawk School District
• Tomorrow River School District
• Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School District
• Tri-County Area School District
• Turtle Lake School District
• Twin Lakes School District
• Two Rivers School District

U

• Union Grove J1 School District
• Union Grove UHS School District
• Unity School District

V

• Valders Area School District
• Veritas High School
• Verona Area School District
• Viroqua Area School District

W

• Wabeno School District
• Walworth J1 School District
• Washburn School District
• Washington School District
• Washington-Caldwell School District
• Waterford Graded J1 School District
• Waterford UHS School District
• Waterloo School District
• Watertown School District
• Waukesha School District
• Waunakee Community School District
• Waupaca School District
• Waupun School District
• Wausau School District
• Wausaukee School District
• Wautoma School District
• Wauwatosa School District
• Wauzeka-Steuben School District
• Webster School District
• West Allis-West Milwaukee School District
• West Bend School District
• West De Pere School District
• West Salem School District
• Westby School District
• Westfield School District
• Weston School District
• Weyauwega-Fremont School District
• Wheatland J1 School District
• White Lake School District
• Whitefish School District
• Whitehall School District
• Whitewater School District
• Whitnall School District
• Wild Rose School District
• Williams Bay School District
• Wilmot UHS School District
• Winneconne Community School District
• Winter School District
• Wisconsin Dells School District
• Wisconsin Heights School District
• Wisconsin Rapids School District
• Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District
• Wonewoc-Union Center School District
• Woodruff J1 School District
• Wrightstown School District

Y

• YMCA Young Leaders Academy
• Yorkville J2 School District

It is critical to make certain academic misconduct charges at your child's Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.