DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT
New York ate's Dignity for All Students Act took effect on July 1, 2012. The law seeks to provide the state's public school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, school buses and/or at school functions.
No student shall be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property or at any school function, nor shall any student be subject to discrimination based on a person's actual or perceived:
- Race
- Color
- Weight
- National Origin
- Religion
- Religious Practice
- Disability
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender (defined to include gender identity or expression)
Each school has a dignity act coordinator who is trained to address issues in areas protected by the law and is accessible to the school community. Please call the Schenectady City School District Pupil Personnel Office at 518-881-3412.
Parents who feel that their child has been bullied should contact their child's principal who will coordinate with the school's DASA coordinator to conduct an investigation. More information about DASA, including the DASA complaint form can be found on the district website here.
The district will act to promptly investigate all complaints and will take appropriate action to protect individuals from further discrimination, harassment, bullying and retaliation.
Any student who believes that he/she has ben subjected to discrimination, harassment, bullying or retaliatory conduct, as well as any individuals who are aware of of have knowledge of this behavior, should immediately repot it to any staff member or administrator.
The staff member/administrator to whom the report is made shall document and take appropriate action to address the situation immediately and promptly report it verbally and in writing within 24 hours. The school principal is charged with receiving all reports of harassment, bullying, discrimination or retaliation. Students and parents, however, may make an oral or written complaint to any teacher, administrator or school employee.
All complaints shall be promptly investigated, forwarded to the school dignity act coordinator for monitoring and treated as confidential and private to the extent possible within legal constraints.