Dignity for ALL Students Act (DASA)

The East Ramapo Central School District will not tolerate incidents of discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, or bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function by students and/or school employees.

The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. Amendments to the act are effective as of July 1, 2013. 

The original 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.

In compliance with Education Law §13(3), at least one staff member at every school must be thoroughly trained in human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex. This staff member should be referred to as the Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC).   

DISTRICT/SCHOOL DIGNITY ACT CONTACTS

Dignity Act Coordinator Responsibilities:

• Supporting the staff in deciding if the incident falls under the DASA law
• Helping the staff, parent, student to fill out the DASA form
• Collaborating with the Principal, Assistant Principal, and School Counselors to conduct investigations and create interventions for the alleged victim and offender
• Track the DASA related incidents on a DASA spreadsheet
• DASA Report forms should be kept in a DASA binder, alphabetized by the alleged victim  

CODE OF CONDUCT

New York State Department of Education

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/

Click on the link for more information on the Dignity Act