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DASA - Dignity for All Students Act

The Dignity for All Students Act

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

In 2010, New York State passed the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).  This law went into effect on July 1, 2012 and protects students from harassment, discrimination and bullying by other students or school employees.  It provides that no student shall be subjected to discrimination based on his or her actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, weight (or other physical features), sexual orientation, gender identity, or biological sex.  DASA explicitly states that bullying, taunting, and intimidation on the protected grounds listed above are all forms of harassment; however, it is not limited to those categories.

Harassment under DASA is defined as the creation of a hostile environment by:

  • Repeated conduct or verbal threats
  • Intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s education performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being
  • Conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety.

Building DASA Coordinators

It is our goal at Cherokee to create a safe and inviting environment that inspires social, emotional and academic learning. For that reason, building level DASA Coordinators are assigned to ensure proper and fair investigation of all claims of harassment/bullying as well as implement district policies regarding these matters. 

If you as a parent or guardian are informed or witness a bullying incident, please contact a building DASA Coordinator. Your cooperation and support are very much needed and appreciated.

 

Sycamore DASA Coordinators:

Ms. Laura Michelsen (Social Worker)
Miss Paige Palazzolo (Social Worker)

 

September 2010

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 create procedures under which material incidents of discrimination and harassment on school grounds or at a school function are reported to the department on an annual basis.

The Commissioner shall provide direction which may include development of model policies related to preventing discrimination and harassment.

What does my Board of Education have to do?

Develop policies intended to create a school environment that is free from discrimination or harassment.

Develop guidelines for school training programs  to discourage discrimination or harassment that are designed to:

Raise awareness and sensitivity of school employees to potential discrimination or harassment and;
To enable employees to prevent and respond to discrimination or harassment.

Develop guidelines relating to the development of non-discriminatory instructional and counseling methods and require that at least one staff member be trained to handle human relations issues.

 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.

Do schools need to provide this information to the public?

A plain language copy of the board approved Code of Conduct must be made available to the public.
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;…”

What training will schools have to provide?

School districts will need to develop policies intended to create an environment that is free of discrimination or harassment and to establish guidelines for school training programs.
Why is The Dignity Act necessary?

The Act provides a response to the large number of harassed and stigmatized students skipping school and engaging in high risk behaviors by prohibiting discrimination in public schools and establishing the basis for protective measures such as training and model policies.  The Dignity Act takes a major step in creating more nurturing environments in all our schools.

How does The Dignity Act relate to SAVE?

NYSED with the New York State Center for School Safety (NYSCSS) is developing guidance to correlate components of SAVE as they relate to The Dignity Act.

When is The Dignity Act effective?

The Dignity Act becomes effective on July 1, 2012.

Bullying Prevention

BULLY PREVENTION

Sycamore supports the District’s commitment to provide a safe and constructive learning environment that honors the dignity and worth of every individual. 

It is the responsibility of the Connetquot Central School District to address bullying and harassment issues that occur.  District staff members are to create an orderly environment within the Connetquot Central School District through training, monitoring and intervening when bullying and harassment occur.

Bullying and harassment are forms of dangerous and disrespectful behavior that will not be permitted or tolerated.  Bullying and harassment may involve a range of misconduct which, based on the severity, will warrant a measured response of corrective action and/or discipline.  Behaviors that do not rise to the level of bullying and harassment, as defined below, still may be subject to intervention and/or discipline under another section of the discipline plan or a discipline policy.

 

Bullying

Bullying means any overt act or combination of such acts directed against a student by another student or group of students and which:

  • is repeated over time;
  • is intended to ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the student;
  • occurs during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity or before or after the school day on a school bus or at a school-sponsored activity.

Harassment

Harassment means any gesture, written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that occurs during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity, or before or after the school day on a school bus or at a school-sponsored activity and which:

  • a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of harming a student or damaging the student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his person or damage to his property; or
  • has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption with a student’s education, or substantial interference with the orderly operation of the school.

Bullying and harassment can take various forms:

  • Physical (including, but not limited to, hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, taking or damaging personal belongings);
  • Verbal (including, but not limited to, taunting, malicious teasing, name calling, making threats);
  • Psychological (including, but not limited to, spreading rumors; manipulating social relationships, engaging in social exclusion, extortion or intimidation);
  • Internet or cyber-bullying (including, but not limited to, the use of instant messaging [IM], e-mail, web sites, chat rooms, and text messaging that is used to bully or harass another student or employee, and when such use interferes with the operation of the school, or infringes upon the general health, safety and well-being of district students or employees);
  • Hazing (including, but not limited to, various forms of bullying and harassment of students by other students in regard to pledging and/or a student's initiation into or affiliation with a school or student related organization or team).

It is important to note that a single negative act as enumerated above may also constitute bullying (if not more serious misconduct) based upon the particular circumstances such as the seriousness of the act and/or the intent of the alleged perpetrator.

Conduct that might otherwise be considered bullying and harassment but does not occur during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity, or before or after the school day on a school bus or at a school-sponsored activity event may still be subject to disciplinary action.

Reporting of bullying and harassment

Staff:

  • When bullying is found to have occurred, consequences will be imparted using the discipline rubric followed by the school.
  • The Connetquot Central School District requires school staff to notify the parent or guardian of a student who commits a verified act of bullying or harassment of the response of the school staff and consequences that may result in the event of further acts of bullying or harassment.
  • To the extent permitted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, (FERPA), the Connetquot Central School District requires school staff to notify the parent or guardian of a student who is a target of bullying or harassment of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or harassment.

Using the bullying prevention policy as a guide, use this document to outline what steps you, as a parent, should take if your child is involved in bullying. 

Chain of Command

If you believe your child is involved in bullying, contact the following school personnel, in the order indicated, to discuss the situation:

  1. Staff member involved or main classroom teacher or advisor
  2. Assistant Principal
  3. Principal
  4. Assistant Superintendent
  5. Superintendent
  6. School Board

Discuss the Facts and Details

To find out the details of a particular situation, ask the following questions:

  • Specifically, what happened in this instance?
  • Where did/does the bullying take place?
  • At what time of day did/does the bullying take place?
  • What staff members were/are involved?
  • What students were/are involved?

If you think your child has been involved in more than one bullying episode, consider the following issues:

  • How does your child usually behave at school? 
  • Is the bullying issue a common behavior or a change in behavior?
  • Which staff members are, or should be, supervising when the bullying occurs?
  • Where does the bullying usually take place?
  • What time of day does the bullying usually take place?
  • Are there bystanders nearby?  How do they respond?

If your child is accused of, or has been confirmed of bullying, consider the following:

  • What was your child’s role?
  • What skills do you think your child needs to learn to replace bullying behavior with acceptable behavior?
  • What procedures do you think the staff needs to do differently to prevent the behavior from recurring?
  • What reasonable procedures do you think need to be put in place to help your child behave within the school guidelines?

If your child has been the target of bullying consider the following:

  • How does your child usually respond when being bullied? 
  • Are there skills he needs to learn to minimize being the target of bullying?
  • In your opinion, what changes in staff response should be implemented?
  • In your opinion, what reasonable procedures need to be put in place to keep your child safe?

This guide, along with your insights and suggestions, will help school personnel, parents and students work together to ensure all students are safe and to maintain a positive learning environment. If you are having an issue with bullying please contact Mr. Kubik or Mr. Pollak.  In addition to the policy, various programs are scheduled to further support the District’s Anti-Bullying Initiative.

 

Sycamore's YFS  social workers are Ms. Michelsen and Miss Palazzolo.  Both may be reached during school hours, 8:35-3:35am.