A brief summary of the Dignity for All Students Act
New York State's Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) 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 on school property, a school bus, and/or at a school function. The Dignity Act took effect on July 1, 2012. This legislation amended State Education Law by creating a new Article 2 – Dignity for All Students. The Dignity Act also amended a New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes. Additionally, under The Dignity Act, schools will be responsible for collecting and reporting data regarding material incidents of discrimination and harassment.
How to file a DASA complaint
Parents and students are invited to contact their child’s building principal who is designated as the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) coordinator in each school. Should you need an interpreter to assist you with filling out the DASA district form, please contact the building principal for assistance or you can contact the District’s DASA Coordinator listed below. School staff are required to notify their principal
within one school day should there be a reportable incident in their school and to fill out a written report no later than two days after the original verbal report is made to the principal. The building principal, who is the DASA Coordinator in each building, will promptly investigate the complaint and contact the parent to discuss their findings. The DASA coordinator in each school is obligated to regularly report data trends to the superintendent of schools. The District, in addition to building level DASA Coordinators (the building principal), has designated Mr. Da'Ron Wilson, a central office administrator, as the School District’s DASA Coordinator. He can be reached by email at dwilson@poughkeepsieschools.org. Parents can also file their DASA form directly with him at the district’s administration building located at 18 S. Perry Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
The Dignity for All Students Act
Dignity Act Incident Fillable Form
DASA (Dignity For All Students Act) Contacts List
CONTACTS
Clinton School- Assistant Principal Da Vetta Price 845-451-4600 ext. 7401
Early Learning Center (Smith School)- 845-451-4720 ext. 3401
Krieger School- Assistant Principal Jessica Baruffo 845-451-4660 ext. 1401
Sojourner Truth School- 845-451-4690 ext. 5401
PMS- AP Climate & Culture Danielle Green 845-451-4800 ext. 4420
PHS- AP Culture & Climate Felix Contreras 845-451-4850 ext. 6401
Warring School- 845-451-4750 ext. 2401
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