D.A.S.A. & Bullying D.A.S.A. & Bullying PreventionPrevention

Dignity For All Students ActDignity For All Students Act

Tracy Manor and Wanda McQueenTracy Manor and Wanda McQueen

November 2012November 2012

http://bornthiswayfoundation.org/

Why DASA ?

What will YOU do…?

New York StateNew York StateDignity for all Students Dignity for all Students ActAct New legislation to ensure New York State New legislation to ensure New York State

students a learning experience that is free of students a learning experience that is free of discrimination or harassment. discrimination or harassment.

Went into effect July 1, 2012Went into effect July 1, 2012

Applies to public schools, charter schools, and Applies to public schools, charter schools, and BOCESBOCES

Applies to incidents on school property ( in Applies to incidents on school property ( in school building, athletic field, playground, school building, athletic field, playground, parking lot, bus)parking lot, bus)

Applies to school sponsored functions, Applies to school sponsored functions, events/activitiesevents/activities

New York State: New York State: Dignity for All Students ActDignity for All Students Act - -

DASADASA

The goal of the Dignity Act is to promote a safe and supportive learning environment in all public schools, free from harassment and discrimination.

Who is Protected Under the Dignity Act?

The Dignity Act protects all public school students in NYS from harassment or

discrimination by other students or adults.

The Dignity Act does not protect adults.

However, school districts are encouraged to include adults in their anti harassment and

anti discrimination policies.

Federal Laws

Title VI - Civil Rights Act discrimination based on race, color, or nationality

Title IX - Education Amendments discrimination based on a person’s sex

Section 504 - Rehabilitation Act and Title II - Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination on the basis of disability.

DASA EXPANDS PROTECTED DASA EXPANDS PROTECTED CLASSES:CLASSES:

The Dignity Act prohibits harassment and discrimination of

individuals on school property or at a school function based upon a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.

Expands protected classes above to include: Expands protected classes above to include: gendergender

weightweightreligionreligionreligious practicereligious practiceethnic groupethnic groupsexual orientation.sexual orientation.

Dignity Act Coordinator

The Coordinator must receive training in the provisions of the Dignity Act and be thoroughly trained in methods to respond to handle human relations in the protected areas.

Approved by the Board of Education.

Dignity Act Coordinator name and contact information must be made available to all school personnel, students and persons in parental relations.

Staff Training ComponentsStaff Training Components

To promote a positive school environment free To promote a positive school environment free from discrimination and harassment.from discrimination and harassment.

To raise awareness and sensitivity to potential To raise awareness and sensitivity to potential acts of discrimination and/or harassment and acts of discrimination and/or harassment and understanding of the C of C.understanding of the C of C.

To enable employees to To enable employees to preventprevent and and respondrespond to to incidents.incidents.

Guidelines relating to development of Guidelines relating to development of nondiscriminatory instructional and counseling nondiscriminatory instructional and counseling methods – (cultural competence).methods – (cultural competence).

School Districts School Districts need to…need to…

Revise Code of Conduct AND adopt policies to create Revise Code of Conduct AND adopt policies to create safe environment.safe environment.

Adopt guidelines to be used in training programs that Adopt guidelines to be used in training programs that raise awareness and enable them to respond raise awareness and enable them to respond appropriately.appropriately.

Designate one staff in each building to be trained in Designate one staff in each building to be trained in handling human relations.handling human relations.

Promote a positive school climate AND instruction on Promote a positive school climate AND instruction on civility.civility.

Report material incidents to NYSDOE annually.Report material incidents to NYSDOE annually.

Bullying/Cyber Bullying? Harassment is the creation of a hostile

environment that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a students' educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being.

Bullying is an intentional form of harassment that creates an imbalance of power and is repeated.

CyberbullyingCyberbullying is simply using technology as the is simply using technology as the mode of harassment.mode of harassment.

From Tolerance to

ACCEPTANCE

RESPECT

SAFE, SUPPORTIVE

ENVIRONMENT

POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS

EveryEvery SchoolSchool Can…Can…

Every Every TeacherTeacher Can… Can…

Every Every StudentStudent Can… Can…

Every Every ParentParent Should… Should…

APPR & Dignity For All APPR & Dignity For All StudentsStudents

Employing multi-tiered strategies in a Employing multi-tiered strategies in a school community will assist in creating school community will assist in creating a dynamic learning environment that a dynamic learning environment that supports achievement & growth.supports achievement & growth.

NYSUT’s Teacher Practice RubricNYSUT’s Teacher Practice Rubric

Standard IV: Learning Environment Standard IV: Learning Environment

MULTI-MULTI-TIEREDTIERED

STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES Mental Health Clinics

Wraparound support Renew Mapping

LGBT Student Leadership

Healthy Relationships Banana Splits

Adventure Based Learning (ABL) Check in/Check out

Families and Schools Together (FAST)

Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE)

Mentoring

Invisible Mentoring Bullying Surveys SDQ

Developmental Asset Builders DATA-SWIS Anonymous Tip Line

Challenge Day PR-Posters Contests, ISAB Awards

Rachel’s Challenge “Stop Walk Talk”

Class Meetings “See It Say It Stop It”

School-Wide Initiatives: PBIS, Olweus, etc Civility Instruction

BEST PRACTICES…BEST PRACTICES…

Assess the School Climate.Assess the School Climate. Set aside 20-30 minutes a week for class Set aside 20-30 minutes a week for class

discussions.discussions. Increase supervision in “hot spots”Increase supervision in “hot spots” Involve students in prevention plans!Involve students in prevention plans! Encourage parent involvement.Encourage parent involvement. Training for ALL.Training for ALL. Integrate anti-bullying themes in curriculum.Integrate anti-bullying themes in curriculum. Investigate and resolve quickly.Investigate and resolve quickly. Create a school-wide climate of caring Create a school-wide climate of caring

connections.connections.

In a Truly Safe School In a Truly Safe School Every Student Feels LikeEvery Student Feels Like……

They Belong.They Belong.

They are Valued.They are Valued.

They Feel Physically and They Feel Physically and Emotionally Safe.Emotionally Safe.