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Massachusetts Parents Sue Son's High School Over Punishments For Using AI in School Work

By Carmen Reyes-Wolfe, J.D. | Last updated on

Parents in Hingham, Massachusetts, are suing their son's school, Hingham High, after it accused the student of plagiarizing when he used artificial intelligence to assist with a history project.

The legal complaint argues that the student, identified as "RNH," used AI only for research and outlining, not for writing the paper. The parents claim their son did not violate any existing school policies.

Significant Repercussions

The lawsuit stems from the alleged significant punishments that the school imposed on RNH, including detention, a failing grade, and his inability to qualify for the National Honor Society.

His parents argue that the unfair and unjustified punishment had a detrimental effect on his university applications, preventing him from being considered by schools such as Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The School Defends Its Decision

The school justified the student's punishment by referencing its academic integrity guidelines, which state that students should not use AI tools for assignments unless the teacher explicitly permits them.

In those cases, students must cite the use of AI in the assignment. Hingham did not mince words, characterizing the student's actions as a significant breach of academic integrity and alleging this event was "the worst episode of academic dishonesty" the school has seen in years.

Besides claiming that the school did not use clear enough language regarding AI in its academic integrity policy, resulting in the school's appearance of arbitrary grading, the Harris family asserts that the school's punishments violate their son's civil rights.

They ask the court to order the school to rectify his grade. RNH received a "D" grade for the assignment in question, and the parents allege he should have received a "B" grade. This change would make him eligible for acceptance into the National Honor Society.

Developing AI Regulations in School Settings

The lawsuit also alleges that the school did not consider AI cheating in its academic integrity policy at the time of the incident, but they have since updated it.

Even though Hingham High School has not commented on the lawsuit, they refuted the claim that AI was not considered cheating at the time by stating that certain courses covered integrity and the use of AI. RNH's parents allege those discussions did not establish clear policies for students.  

Implications for Educational Institutions

This case underscores the need for schools to develop policies explicitly addressing AI use in academic settings. Because AI is being integrated into many research and learning tools, schools must understand AI well and clarify what constitutes acceptable use to avoid similar disputes in the future.

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