Core Ethical Values Policy

digiTIES / The Islamic Education School Online

Core Ethical Values Policy

STU-004 · Student · Policy & Procedure

Policy Number	STU-004
Category	Student
Effective Date	2026–2027 School Year
Last Reviewed	March 2026
Next Review Due	December 2026
Approved By	Principal, digiTIES Online School
Standards	WASC C1, A1 · NSQ B1, C4 · digiTIES Vision & Mission
Policy Contact	Principal – principal@digities.org
Scope	All enrolled students, Grades 1–12; all staff responsible for modeling and assessing
Replaces	Core Ethical Values Rubric 2024 (two versions) – consolidated into single formal policy

Policy Overview

Purpose & Statement

At digiTIES / The Islamic Education School Online, character development is not separate from academic achievement – it is woven into everything we do. This policy defines the four Core Ethical Values that underpin digiTIES’ school culture: Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, and Care. These values are rooted in Islamic moral teachings and are actively taught, modeled, assessed, and celebrated across all grade levels and subject areas. Every student, teacher, and staff member is expected to embody these values in all interactions.

Scope & Who This Applies To

This policy applies to all enrolled students in Grades 1–12 and all digiTIES staff. Students are assessed against these values as part of their participation grade and recognized through the school’s recognition programs. Staff are expected to model these values in all professional interactions and use them as the language of feedback in the classroom.

The Four Core Ethical Values

1. Respect

Respect means honoring the dignity of every person – students, teachers, staff, and families – through our words, actions, and attitudes. At digiTIES, respect is demonstrated by:

Using polite, kind language in all communications – in class, on platforms, and in writing.
Listening attentively when others speak, without interrupting.
Acknowledging the contributions and perspectives of peers and teachers.
Following school conduct rules and teacher instructions consistently.
Treating the online learning environment as a sacred space for learning and growth.

2. Responsibility

Responsibility means taking ownership of one’s learning, conduct, and commitments. At digiTIES, responsibility is demonstrated by:

Submitting all assignments on time and being prepared for every class.
Attending all scheduled classes and fulfilling asynchronous work requirements.
Staying organized and tracking deadlines, feedback, and progress independently.
Participating actively and consistently – not passively attending.
Communicating proactively with teachers when challenges arise.

3. Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness means being honest, reliable, and acting with integrity in all academic and personal conduct. At digiTIES, trustworthiness is demonstrated by:

Completing all work independently and honestly, without plagiarism or unauthorized assistance.
Being transparent about academic challenges rather than hiding difficulties.
Keeping commitments and following through on agreements with teachers and peers.
Maintaining the privacy and dignity of others – not sharing private information.
Using only authorized resources and tools as directed by teachers.

4. Care

Care means genuinely considering the well-being of others – classmates, teachers, and the broader school community – and taking positive action to improve the environment around us. At digiTIES, care is demonstrated by:

Showing concern for the academic and personal well-being of peers.
Proposing ideas that benefit the class or school community.
Volunteering to support classmates and take on tasks for school improvement.
Handling differences of opinion and background with grace and empathy.
Reflecting Islamic teachings of brotherhood, sisterhood, and community responsibility.

Core Ethical Values Rubric

The following rubric is used by teachers to assess student demonstration of Core Ethical Values. Assessment is integrated with the Participation Rubric (STU-003) and reported in digiTIES SIS. Teachers provide written comments on Core Ethical Values development on each report card.

Value	4 – Exemplary	3 – Proficient	2 – Developing	1 – Needs Improvement
Respect	Always uses polite language, listens attentively, acknowledges others, follows rules consistently.	Generally polite, listens most of the time, follows rules with minor lapses.	Occasionally polite, sometimes listens, needs reminders about rules.	Rarely polite, often interrupts, seldom acknowledges others, frequently violates rules.
Responsibility	Always submits work on time, attends all classes, stays organized, participates actively.	Submits most work on time, attends most classes, generally organized, participates regularly.	Some late work, occasional absences, struggles with organization, sporadic participation.	Frequent late work, multiple absences, not organized, rarely participates.
Trustworthiness	Consistently does own work, honest, keeps promises, maintains privacy, uses authorized resources.	Generally does own work, mostly honest, keeps most promises, respects privacy.	Sometimes does own work, occasionally honest, breaks promises occasionally, needs reminders.	Frequently copies work, dishonest, rarely keeps promises, overlooks privacy, uses unauthorized resources.
Care	Consistently cares about others, proposes improvement ideas, takes on tasks, copes with differences effectively.	Generally cares about others, often suggests ideas, usually takes on tasks, handles differences well.	Occasionally shows concern, sometimes suggests ideas, needs encouragement, occasionally struggles with differences.	Rarely considers others, seldom proposes ideas, does not take on tasks, often struggles with differences.

Scoring Guide

13–16 Points: Exemplary – demonstrates strong ethical behavior in all areas.
9–12 Points: Proficient – generally exhibits ethical behavior with minor areas for growth.
5–8 Points: Developing – shows some ethical behavior but needs significant improvement.
1–4 Points: Needs Improvement – frequently fails to demonstrate ethical behavior; requires intervention.

Implementation Expectations

For Teachers

Use the Core Ethical Values language consistently in all verbal and written feedback to students.
Assess Core Ethical Values quarterly using the rubric above and document in digiTIES SIS.
Provide written Core Ethical Values comments on every student report card.
Recognize students who exemplify Core Ethical Values through the STU-001 recognition systems.
Celebrate students who demonstrate exemplary Core Ethical Values by recognizing their achievements in class and through positive parent communication. A summary overview of each student’s Core Ethical Values development during the marking period will be shared and discussed at parent–teacher conferences.

For Students

Learn and understand the four Core Ethical Values and what they look like in practice.
Reflect on your own demonstration of these values in class and in assignments.
Use Core Ethical Values language when giving peer feedback or participating in class discussions.
Accept feedback on Core Ethical Values as an opportunity for growth, not criticism.

For Administration

Review Core Ethical Values rubric data quarterly to identify school-wide trends.
Incorporate Core Ethical Values data into student recognition (STU-001) and intervention (STU-002) decisions.
Ensure Core Ethical Values are communicated to families at the start of each school year per CA Ed Code §48980.
Review and update this policy annually with staff input.

Standards & Legal Alignment

Standard / Law	Reference	How This Policy Addresses It
ACS WASC 2026	Standards C1, A1	School culture and vision centered on student well-being, ethical development, and values-aligned education accessible to all students.
NSQ Online Programs 2025	Standard B1	The program’s mission and educational focus are clearly communicated and guide all aspects of program design and delivery.
NSQ Online Programs 2025	Standard C4	Policies and procedures are reviewed and updated annually with stakeholder input.
digiTIES Vision & Mission	Core Identity	Core ethical values are central to digiTIES’ mission of developing confident, ethical, and future-ready Muslim leaders.

Related Policies & Documents

STU-001 – Student Recognition & Rewards Policy
STU-002 – Student Behavior & Discipline Policy
STU-003 – Student Participation & Engagement Standards
HR-001 – Staff Conduct & Performance Policy
ADM-001 – Enrollment & Admissions Policy

Annual Policy Review Log

Per NSQ Standard C4 and ACS WASC Standard A6, all policies must be reviewed annually with documented stakeholder input and governing body approval.

Date	Revised By	Approved By	Summary of Changes
[Date]	[Name]	Principal / Board	Initial adoption

digiTIES Vision, Mission & Values – Policy Alignment Reference

VISION

By 2030, digiTIES will stand among the world’s most respected virtual schools – a premier destination for Muslim youth seeking rigorous academics, global opportunity, and a community rooted in faith and integrity.

MISSION

digiTIES delivers a rigorous, WASC-accredited virtual education that prepares Muslim youth for competitive university pathways and meaningful futures. We combine academic excellence, innovative digital learning, and a values-driven community rooted in the Islamic tradition to develop confident, ethical, and future-ready leaders.

CORE VALUES ALIGNMENT

Before adoption, confirm this policy supports: Academic excellence · Islamic values · Digital innovation · Student agency · Community partnership · Continuous improvement

Resource Library