The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is committed to preserving the intellectual and moral seriousness of a true classical Catholic education. Academic integrity is not simply a rule to be enforced—it is a matter of justice, virtue, and respect for the pursuit of truth.
Because CLAA students work independently from home, the responsibility for academic honesty and discipline rests on both students and parents, supported by the Academy’s clear standards and accountability measures.
Academic integrity at the CLAA is grounded in the Catholic moral law. Lying, cheating, and plagiarism are violations of the Eighth Commandment, not just program rules. Students are expected to approach their studies with honesty, humility, and a desire to learn—not merely to “get good grades” or “finish quickly.”
Parents are expected to help instill these values in the home, fostering an environment where virtue is practiced daily and dishonesty is not tolerated.
All assignments, quizzes, and exams are expected to reflect a student’s own work. Students may use their course materials, but they may not:
Copy answers from others
Use AI tools, online answer banks, or unapproved resources to produce work
Submit written work that is not their own original effort
Collaborate on assessments intended to be individual
Honesty is essential to ensure that the progress reflected in the student’s record is real and trustworthy.
The CLAA uses structured, objective grading methods—including AI-assisted grading for written assignments—to ensure that student work is reviewed fairly and consistently. These systems help identify suspicious patterns, copied content, or other violations. If academic dishonesty is detected, it is investigated promptly.
Because the CLAA is a homeschool-based program, parents are the first line of discipline. The Academy expects parents to correct dishonest or negligent behavior firmly and consistently. This may include repeating work, slowing course progression, or enforcing personal consequences at home.
The Academy will support parents in this but does not replace parental authority.
When academic integrity is violated, the Academy may:
Invalidate or nullify submitted work
Require the student to re-complete assignments under closer supervision
Restrict access to course progression until the issue is resolved
Remove students from diploma programs or tutoring privileges if serious dishonesty persists
The goal is always to restore virtue and accountability, not to punish without purpose.
Academic discipline at the CLAA also involves habits of diligence: showing up to study daily, completing lessons in order, reading carefully, and taking tests seriously. Students who rush through work, neglect their studies, or rely on shortcuts are not fulfilling their duty as students.
The Academy will intervene if a pattern of academic negligence is observed and may recommend adjustments to the student’s program or enrollment.
Academic integrity and discipline are essential to the spirit of classical Catholic education. The CLAA provides clear rules and structured accountability, but the formation of virtue takes place in the home. When parents and the Academy work together, students grow in both knowledge and character.
In summary:
The CLAA handles academic integrity and discipline by setting clear moral and academic standards, using objective grading systems, relying on parents as the primary enforcers of discipline, and addressing violations decisively but constructively. The goal is to cultivate honest, disciplined, virtuous students—not merely compliant ones.