DASA Overview @ BCCSG

We are committed to ensuring that all scholars feel safe and are welcomed into a school environment that has their best interest in mind.

The Dignity for All Students Act:

• Provides schools and students a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.

• Requires that there should be instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity

• Raises an awareness and sensitivity for different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes.

The following are DASA Protocols at our schools

Scholars

• The Concern Box is confidential! Reports are dropped off by the scholar and seen only by our school’s DASA Coordinators. These are incidents that cause a scholar to feel unsafe or anxious at school because of his peers or staff member.

• The Conflict Resolution Box is used to solve small classroom problems. These are used mostly for one time­ incidents that can be discussed and resolved amongst peers.

• Second Step Character Education takes place in all classrooms weekly.

School Staff/ Parent

• DASA Incident Report completed by school staff or parent to report an incident of bullying, harassment or discrimination.

• Required to orally report the incident(s) within one school day to the principal of his/her designee.

• Report it in writing within two days after the oral report by completing the following DASA Incident Report Form.

Investigating Reports

Reports reviewed by DASA Coordinators to find out the following…

• What exactly was said and done

• Motive/intent

• Relationship and past history

• Impact or perceived impact

After Investigation

After investigating an incident, the Dignity Act Coordinator(s) will make a determination as to whether or not the incident was material. A material incident under DASA is

• An act or series of acts by a student and/or employee on school property or at a school function;

• Creates a hostile environment by conduct;

• With or without physical contact, and/or;

• Verbal threats, intimidation or abuse;

• Conduct of such a severe or pervasive nature that it has the following effect;

• Unreasonably and substantially interferes with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits; or

• Mental, emotional and/or physical wellbeing; or

• Reasonably causes, or would reasonably be expected to cause, a student to fear for his or her physical safety.

Taking Action

School’s follow-up action will consider the following…

• Student’s age and developmentally appropriate conduct

• Specific offense and circumstances of incident

• Student’s prior disciplinary record

• Input from persons in parental relation, teachers, students as appropriate

• Disability status

Plan for change

• Restorative practices; positive intervention supports

• Counseling, conflict resolution, mediation

• Behavioral intervention contracts, education

The DASA Coordinator at our school is Ms. Appleby. If you have a complaint or suspicion that your scholar is being bullied by another scholar(s) or staff member(s), please email the DASA Coordinators at DASAGIRLS@brighterchoice.org.