Dignity for All Students Act
New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act seeks to provide the State’s students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus, and/or at a school function.
WHAT IS THE DIGNITY ACT?
WHO IS PROTECTED UNDER THE DIGNITY ACT?
HOW DO WE DEFINE HARASSMENT AND BULLYING?
The Dignity for All Students Act, or DASA, is a state law intended to create a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment for all students. The law states that no student shall be subjected to discrimination, harassment, or bullying (including cyber bullying) by employees or students on school property, or off school property at a school function, electronically, and when the act may create a risk of substantial disruption at school.
The Dignity Act protects all students. This legislation explicitly mandates the reporting of all incidents of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination based on, but not limited to, a person’s race, color, weight, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender (which includes gender identity and/or expression), or sex. This includes any act(s) of harassment, bullying, cyber bullying, and/or discrimination of students by other students as well as school personnel.
The Dignity Act defines harassment and bullying as the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation, or abuse, including cyber bullying. This includes threats, intimidation, and abuse that occurs verbally, non-verbally, or on any form of electronic communication.