DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT (D.A.S.A.)

Washingtonville Central School District is committed to the intellectual, cultural, physical and emotional growth of our children in a safe and supportive environment.

THE GOAL:

The goal of The Dignity Act is to create a safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and focus, rather than fear being discriminated against and/or verbally and/or physically harassed. All public elementary and secondary school students have the right to attend school in a safe, welcoming, considerate, and caring environment.

• The Dignity Act prohibits the harassment and discrimination of students by students and by school.
• Bullying and hazing are forms of harassment and discrimination.
• The Dignity Act applies to behavior on school property (including athletic fields, playgrounds, and parking  
• lots), in school buildings, on a school bus/vehicle, as well as at school-sponsored events or activities.

THE LAW:

No student shall be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property or at a school function; nor shall any student be subject to discrimination based on his/her actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, mental or physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. In 2019, the DASA was amended to reflect New York State’s approval of Senate Bill S6209A, The CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act. The CROWN Act prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles. 

KEY DEFINITIONS:

• Harassment: “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.”
• Bullying: “A problem behavior based on power relationships in which a student or a group of students uses power aggressively to cause emotional or physical pain and distress to another student.”

PROCESS FOR REPORTING A MATERIAL INCIDENT:

1. When a complaint is brought to a Building Level Coordinator, the Building Level Coordinator will take a report from the complainant. 
2. The Building Level Coordinator will investigate the complaint and render a decision within 30 days absent extenuating circumstances of receiving the complaint. 
3. The Building Level Coordinator will notify the complainant, the principal, and others who need to be advised of the decision. 
4. If the complaint is substantiated, then within 10 days of the decision, any change or recommendation will be enacted. 
5. Within 10 days of the decision, the complainant may appeal in writing to the District Level Dignity Act Coordinator. 
6. Within 10 days of the receipt of the appeal the District Level Dignity Act Coordinator will meet with the complainant to hear the appeal. 
7. The District Level Coordinator will have 10 days in which to conduct an investigation of the appeal. 
8. Within 20 days of meeting with the complainant the District Level Coordinator will render a decision. 
9. An appeal of the District Level Coordinator's decision may be made to the Board of Education. The Board will make its decision based solely upon the record before it. All appeals to the Board must be made in writing and submitted to the District Clerk within 10 business days of the District Level Coordinator's decision. The Board of Education will hear the appeal at their next regularly scheduled meeting or work session. When the Board of Education hears an appeal, they may only review the written documents submitted by the parents and the District. A decision shall be made by the School Board within 10 days of its meeting. 
10. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the School Board-level decision, they must request a review by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within 60 days of the School Board's decision.