Dignity for All Students Act

The Board of Education recognizes that learning environments that are safe and supportive can increase student attendance and improve academic achievement. A student’s ability to learn and achieve high academic standards, and a school’s ability to educate students, is compromised by incidents of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to bullying, taunting and intimidation. Therefore, in accordance with the Dignity for All Students Act, Education Law, Article 2, the District will strive to create an environment free of discrimination and harassment and will foster civility in the schools to prevent and prohibit conduct which is inconsistent with the District’s educational mission.

The District condemns and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment of students based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientations, gender, or sex by school employees or students on school property and at school-sponsored activities and events that take place at locations off school property. In addition, any act f discrimination or harassment, outside of school sponsored events, which can reasonably be expected to materially and substantially disrupt the education process, may be subject to discipline.

The Dignity Act was signed into NYS law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. The 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.

For more information about the Dignity for All Students Act visit the New York State website for the Dignity Act.

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.

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.

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.”