DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT (DASA)
Commissioner’s Regulation 100.2(jj) requires that boards of education and the trustee or sole trustee of every school district approve the designation of at least one staff member at every school as a Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC), and that the DAC be thoroughly trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), and sex. It should be noted that the Dignity Act does not require or prescribe a specific format for this training. Districts, BOCES, and charter schools have flexibility in determining how best to deliver it.
All children have the right to attend school in a safe, welcoming, and caring environment. DASA specifically ensures this for New York State public school students.
The Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act also known as DASA) was signed into law on September 13, 2010. The legislation amended State Education Law by creating a new Article 2, Dignity for All Students, and revising Section 801-a regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, character education, tolerance, respect for others, and dignity. It combats bias-based bullying, harassment, and discrimination in public schools, and includes awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people including individuals of different races, weights, national origins, ethnicity, religions or religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions.
• The Dignity Act promotes civility and creates a safe nurturing environment
• The Dignity Act provides a response to students who are harassed and bullied at school.
What are the duties of the Dignity Act Coordinator?
The Dignity Act Coordinator is the point person for the Dignity Act in their school. The work of the Dignity Act Coordinator should focus on the premise that no student be harassed or discriminated against due to their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), or sex.
In addition, the Dignity Act Coordinator should work to ensure that all students are provided with a safe, supportive, and positive school climate. The New York State Board of Regents adopted the voluntary Educating the Whole Child Engaging the Whole School: Guidelines and Resources for Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) in New York State in July 2011 (www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/sedl/SEDLguidelines.pdf).
In the Westbury Public Schools, each Principal or building Designee has been appointed as the DAC for his/her school.
All incidents and/or questions should first be directed to the Building Principal.
If an incident should occur that is not "connected" or directly related to one school, please contact Mrs. Deadra Faulkner, District Director of Guidance (District Dignity Act Coordinator)
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL/DASA COORDINATORS
Dryden Street Elementary School
Mrs. Gloria Dingwall
516.876.5039
Park Avenue Elementary School
Mr. Robert Chambers
516.876.5109
Drexel Avenue Elementary School
Mrs. Echele May
516.876.5030
Powell Lane Elementary School
Ms. Claudia Germaine
516.876.5124
Westbury Middle School
Mrs. Felicia Crawford
516.876.5082
Westbury High School
Mr. David Zimbler
516.876.5047
District DASA Coordinator
Mrs. Deadra Faulkner
516.874.1011
Please note: The Dignity Act does not address the discrimination or harassment of employees; it addresses the discrimination and harassment of students by students and/or employees on school property or at a school function.
Dignity for All Students / Anti-Bullying
|
All children have the right to attend school in a safe, welcoming, and caring environment. DASA specifically ensures this for New York State public school students.
The Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act also known as DASA) was signed into law on September 13, 2010. The legislation amended State Education Law by creating a new Article 2, Dignity for All Students, and revising Section 801-a regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, character education, tolerance, respect for others, and dignity. It combats bias-based bullying, harassment, and discrimination in public schools, and includes awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people including individuals of different races, weights, national origins, ethnicity, religions or religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions.
• The Dignity Act promotes civility and creates a safe nurturing environment
• The Dignity Act provides a response to students who are harassed and bullied at school.
Dignity Act § 11: Harassment – the creation of a hostile environment by:
- conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety
- conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse includes but is not limited to conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.
Highlights of the new law, effective July 1, 2012
- All public elementary and secondary school students are protected.
- DASA prohibits the harassment and discrimination of students by students and by school personnel.
New York State Center for School Safety -- FACT SHEET
What is The Dignity Act?
The Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) was established with the broad legislative intent to provide a school environment free of discrimination and harassment.
What does New York State Education Department (NYSED) have to do?
-The Commissioner shall promulgate regulations to assist schools in implementing this legislation.
- The Commissioner shall provide direction which may include development of model policies related to preventing discrimination and harassment.
Who is protected under this legislation?
- Identified in the legislation are those who are subjected to intimidation or abuse based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.
How does The Dignity Act define “Harassment?”
- Harassment is defined as “creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being;…”
|
