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Dignity For All Students (DASA)

September 2024

Dear Parents / Guardians,

In 2010, New York State passed the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). This law went into effect on July 1, 2012 and protects students from harassment, discrimination and bullying by other students or school employees. It addresses that no student shall be subjected to discrimination based on his or her actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, weight (or other physical features), sexual orientation, gender identity, or biological sex.  DASA explicitly states that bullying, taunting, and intimidation on the protected grounds listed above are all forms of harassment; however, it is not limited to those categories.

Harassment under DASA is defined as the creation of a hostile environment by: 

  • repeated conduct or 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;

  • conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety. 

In response to this new law, and following the recommendation of the NYS School Boards Association, Glen Cove School District has reviewed its policies related to student conduct and social-emotional learning and has strong procedures in place to deal with these issues.  The required updates have been made and are now included in the Board Policies as well as the Code of Conduct for students.  These documents can be found on the school website on the Board of Education page at www.glencoveschools.org.

Building principals will serve as Dignity Act Coordinators in each of our schools and I will be serving as the District DASA Coordinator.  All employees will continue to be provided with Dignity Act training during this school year. Instruction will be given to students regarding this act as well.  The District will also continue to deliver its curriculum to promote respect and other age-appropriate resources.  As is always the case, a partnership between home and school is essential. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Alexa Doeschner
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology