The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) ensures that school administrators and educators have the tools and resources in place to afford all students – and particularly those who are targeted by bullies – a safe and supportive educational environment. The bill explicitly defines "harassment" in terms of creating a hostile environment that unreasonably and substantially interferes with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being, or conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety. The bill explicitly prohibits harassment and discrimination of students with respect to certain non-exclusive protected classes, including, but not limited to, the student's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex. Source: Taken directly from http://www.state.ny.us/governor/printable/press/090810-DignityStudentsAct_printable.html.
To access our district DASA forms, information and policies please click here.