The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
The Dignity for All Students Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010. This legislation amended State Education Law by creating a new Article 2 – Dignity for All Students. The Dignity Act also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes. The Dignity Act further amended Section 2801 of the Education Law by requiring Boards of Education to include language addressing The Dignity Act in their codes of conduct. Additionally, under the Dignity Act, schools will be responsible for collecting and reporting data regarding material incidents of discrimination and harassment.
The DASA coordinators for the district are the building principals. Please contact them if you have questions, concerns, or want to report an incident.
Reporting an act of bullying
- The DASA Coordinator is responsible for receiving oral or written complaints alleging violations of this policy, as with all infractions from the Student Code of Conduct.
- Students may report complaints of bullying to any school district employee, faculty or staff. All District employees, faculty and staff are required and must report, in writing, any allegations of bullying or violations of this Policy involving students to the DASA Coordinator.
- Any other members of the school community who have credible information that an act of bullying has taken place may file a report of bullying, whether a victim or witness.
- Any student (and/or the parent on that complainant’s behalf if the complainant is a minor) who believes he/she is a victim of bullying (or any individual, including any student who has knowledge of any incident(s) involving bullying of students) is strongly encouraged to report the incident to a school official.
- A school district employee, school volunteer, contractor, student, parent/guardian or other persons who promptly reports in good faith an act of bullying to the appropriate school official, and who makes this report in compliance with the procedures set forth in this District Policy, is immune from a cause of action for damages arising out of the reporting itself or any failure to remedy the reported incident. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of bullying will not affect the complainant or reporter’s future employment, grades, learning or working environment, or work assignments within Oppenheim Ephratah St. Johnsville Central School.
- The DASA Coordinator shall document in writing on the proper form regarding bullying, as with all infractions of the Code of Student Conduct, to ensure that problems are appropriately addressed in a timely manner, whether the report is made verbally or in writing.
More information about policies and procedures related to DASA is outlined in the student handbooks and Board of Education policies.