Legislative background of the Dignity Act

Dignity for All Students Act Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction to the Dignity Act Legislative background of the Dignity Act Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), also referred to as the Dignity Act, is a law in the state of New York. In 2010, September, the New York Legislative arm passed into law the Dignity Act, which then came into effect in 2012, July 1. According to the New York State Education Department, the law enabled the creation of a policy that assured all students in the public school system in New York, a school environment free from discrimination and persecution (New York State Education Department, 2013, Jun). The law affects public schools in all New York districts, charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Education Services. When coming into effect, the Dignity Act made changes to various New York State Education Laws. First, it created Article 2 which enumerated Dignity for all students. Second, it adjusted Section 801 of the New York Education regulation by including ideas of tolerance, reverence for others and dignity towards people’s race, religion, weight, nationality, physical disabilities, and sexual orientation. Additionally, it made changes to Section 2801 of the regulation, which required Boards of Education to enumerate Codes of Conduct that outlawed prejudice and harassment of students (New York State Education Department, 2013, Jun). The purpose of the Dignity Act The establishment of the Dignity Act was to provide a school environment absent of harassment and discrimination by; creating a school environment that is secure and supportive, which would enable students to learn and focus on school work as opposed to continually facing fears of discrimination, physical harassment or suffering verbal abuse. The law gave a response to a large number of students who due to bullying and stigmatization in school, opted to skip school and engage in risky behavior by prohibiting prejudice against students and providing protective measures for such students (New York State Education Department, 2013, Jun). Also, it helped transform New York public schools into nurturing environments. Whom the Dignity Act protects The New York State Education Department observes that the Act protects all public school students in New York from suffering discrimination or persecution by their fellow students or school employees because of belonging to the protected classes, based on race, religion, color, weight, sexual leaning, disability, sex, gender, nationality, and ethnicity. Further, it protects students from prejudice and persecution even when the protected classes are not a contributing factor (New York State Education Department, 2013, Jun). Highlights of the law The Dignity for All Students law, According to the New York State Educational Department sought to achieve the following. One, to ensure the absence of harassment and intolerance against students by school employees or other students within the confine of the school property because of who they are (New York State Education Department, 2013, Jun). The law began by defining harassment as verbal threats, intimidation, abuse and hostility conduct towards a student, which results in the interference with the said student’s performance in class and other school opportunities, as well as, affecting their emotional, psychological and physical well-being. Second, it seeks to promote educational measures that improve the culture and climate of schools such as a curriculum on the safe and accountable use of the internet, guidance, counseling on cyberbullying and how to address it, and sensitivity training on potential acts that bring about discrimination. Third, the law necessitates students to gather and report data concerning incidents of discrimination and harassment within the school. Fourth, it enforces the need for schools to undergo specialized training seminars to enable them to implement a prevention and intervention program to counter persecution and bullying. Reporting requirements for educators in the identification of bullying, harassment, and discrimination Timelines and procedures for reporting verbally and in writing The DASA act outlines specific procedures a student should follow after suffering any form of harassment. According to the system, once a student faces harassment or prejudice, they should submit an oral report to the school principal and the superintenden...