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Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school 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.

The Dignity for All Students Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and takes effect on July 1, 2012 and states:

"No student shall be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property or at a school function; nor shall any student be subjected to discrimination based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), or sex by school employees or students on school property or at a school function."

The intent of the Dignity for All Students Act (Dignity Act) is to provide all public school students with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, as well as to foster civility in public schools. The Dignity Act also focuses on prevention of harassment and discriminatory behaviors through the promotion of educational measures meant to positively impact school culture and climate.

Among the Dignity Act’s provisions, is the requirement that all public school districts (districts) and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) include provisions in their Codes of Conduct prohibiting the discrimination and harassment against students by students and/or school employees on school property or at a school function, as well as provisions for responding to acts of discrimination and harassment against students by students and/or school employees. The Dignity Act upholds New York State’s commitment to provide safe and orderly schools for its students.

Dignity Act Coordinator

Susan Moulton 
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Phone: 315-568-5500 ext. 4133
Email

Further information about the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) can be found at: NYS Dignity for All Students Act Resource Guide.