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.

DISTRICT INFORMATION FOR FILING 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