Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
Harassment, Discrimination, Bullying and Cyberbullying reporting – Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
Harassment, discrimination, bullying and cyberbullying can take many forms. It may take the form of bullying, taunting or intimidation, and may or may not include physical contact. It generally is based upon the targeted student’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation, or the student’s associations with others. It may be:
- Verbal — Name-calling, teasing, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, threatening to cause harm.
- Social — Spreading rumors about someone, excluding others on purpose, telling other children not to be friends with someone, embarrassing someone in public.
- Physical — Hitting, punching, shoving, kicking, pinching, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, making mean or rude hand gestures.
- Social Media – Using Social Media to taunt, threaten, spread rumors, embarrass.
If you have observed or become aware of an incident of discrimination, harassment and bullying, the following form should be submitted:
Questar III staff members are required to report incidents – whether directly observed or reported to them by others – to the principal.
Students are expected to report incidents of discrimination, harassment and bullying to a teacher, principal or other staff member.
Parents and students also may contact their Dignity Act Coordinator to report incidents. Parents and students may file a DASA Incident form with the Dignity Act Coordinator for the student’s school. The list of Dignity Act Coordinators is below.
Questar III BOCES Dignity Act Coordinators
The principal of each Questar III BOCES school serves as their school’s Dignity Act Coordinator. A list of coordinators can be found below. Coordinators provide the State Education Department with an annual summary of all material incidents of discrimination and/or harassment which occur on school property (including on a school bus) or at a school function.
New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (Dignity Act) seeks to provide school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying.
It is the goal of Questar III to create school environments which recognize and promote tolerance, respect for others and civility toward people of all kinds. Questar III BOCES’ Code of Conduct also prohibits discrimination, harassment, bullying and cyberbullying of students by other students, employees, or others on school property or at school functions.
Additional Resources
- Questar III BOCES Project Save Code of Conduct
- NYSED.gov – The Dignity Act
- New York State Center for School Safety
- StopBullying.gov