Dignity Act Coordinator
In accordance with DASA regulations, one staff member is designated and trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex.
Jose Ferrer, School Principal, as the Dignity Act Coordinator (the “DAC”). Mr. Ferrer can be reached by dialing the School’s main line (347-696-0042) or by email at jferrer@chslsj.org.
Use this form to file a DASA complaint.
The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) is a New York State law that "seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying," (NYSED.gov).
Charter High School for Law and Social Justice is committed to upholding this law and to providing a welcoming and affirming environment for all people in our school. Through the implementation of SEL programs at all levels and through the active pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion, we hope to prepare all members of our community to exhibit empathy and respect for people of all backgrounds and identities.
We are guided by the belief that all students of the school community deserve the opportunity to learn in an environment where they feel safe. Students, parents, and staff all have a role to play in building positive environments for scholars and in promoting acceptance and respect among all individuals.
DASA Overview
In its simplest form, DASA is intended to afford all students in public schools an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying in all its forms, including taunting and intimidation, and by any means, including internet or other digital communications or media. The legislation presumes that students’ ability to learn and meet high academic standards, as well as the schools’ ability to educate its students, are significantly compromised if these types of incidents are allowed to occur.
Where Does DASA Apply?
DASA is not limited to the confines of the school building. It extends its protection to school grounds, athletic events, and even school buses. Moreover, DASA is not confined to the instructional day at school, but also covers activities conducted before and after school, extracurricular events and activities, sporting events, field trips, and any off-campus school sponsored event. This comprehensive coverage ensures that students are protected from discrimination, harassment, and bullying in all aspects of their school life.
What is Discrimination?
Discrimination is the unfair and unequal treatment of an individual or group. In the context of public schools, discrimination is strictly prohibited in all its forms. This is particularly significant for individuals, be they students or staff members, who are part of a “protected class” under the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR). These protected classes include race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. DASA regulations extend this protection to include actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex. This ensures that no student or staff member is subjected to any form of discrimination within the school environment.
What is Bullying and Harassment?
Bullying and harassment refers to any act or action that creates a hostile environment by conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse, whether verbal or non-verbal in nature, including cyberbullying. It also includes:
Any conduct that has the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits or mental, emotional or physical well-being, and/or
Any conduct or behavior which would reasonably cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety, cause physical injury or emotional harm, and/or
Any conduct or behavior that occurs off of school property but would create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, such as cyberbullying*.
*Cyberbullying is defined as harassment or bullying by any form of electronic communication and includes incidents occurring off school property that create or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment.
What are Examples of Discriminatory, Bullying, and/or Harassment Behaviors or Conduct?
physical behavior such as hitting & touching
damaging property or belongings
stealing, extortion or threatening to extort
taunting or name calling
teasing or insulting
making crude comments
spreading rumors or gossip
threats, stalking, harassment
use of peer pressure
shunning or excluding
graphic written statements
use of cell phone or internet and conduct which may be physically threatening, harmful or humiliating
getting others to join in the inappropriate behaviors listed above
Resources:
StopBullying.gov, US Department of Education, includes resources for kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and community, kids, guidance, and much more.
NYSED DASA Resources