The Dignity for All Students Act &

Law to Encourage the Acceptance of All

Differences (LEAD)

Summer School Orientation

What is

“The Dignity for All Students Act?” Goal: aims to end discrimination and harassment in

schools.

It prohibits harassment & discrimination against all students in public schools based on a person’s◦ actual or perceived race,

◦ color,

◦ weight,

◦ national origin,

◦ ethnic group,

◦ religion, religious practice,

◦ disability,

◦ sexual orientation, gender or sex.

Requirements

by Public School Districts Establish anti-harassment and discrimination policies;

Create school training programs in harassment and discrimination;

Raise staff sensitivity and awareness, as well as enable staff to respond to harassment;

Develop non-discrimination instruction and counseling methods.

The curriculum for every grade, K – 12, must include a course on civility, citizenship and character education.

When will this happen?

The Dignity for All Students Act was

signed into law on September 13, 2010,

passed during the 2011 legislative session

and will take effect on July 1, 2012.

What is LEAD? The Law to Encourage the Acceptance of All

Differences (LEAD) addresses bullying more directly.

It gives the term “bullying” a specific definition

It targets bullying behavior in general, not just cases based on discrimination.

Rather than simply requiring anti-bullying policies, it spells out the specific actions that school districts must take to prevent bullying before it happens, and respond to cases where bullying is already occurring.

Definition of Bullying LEAD defines bullying as severe or repeated

actions by one or more students or school employees that has the effect of:Causing physical injury, emotional harm, or

damage to a student’s property;

Placing the student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to his/her property;

Creating a hostile environment at school for the student; or

Materially and substantially disrupting the educational process or orderly operation of a school.

LEAD Requirements of Schools

LEAD requires the curriculum

in all grades, K – 12, to include a

component on discouraging acts

of bullying.

Students would receive

instruction on civility, sensitivity

toward others, and bullying

awareness.

Staff Responsibility All school employees (including teachers,

administrators, counselors, coaches, custodians) would be required to report known or suspected incidences of bullying to the superintendent.

The law would protect any employee who reports such incidents in good faith from civil liability. (This is just like the mandatory reporting policy that applies to known or suspected incidences of child abuse.)

LEAD would add bullying to the list of incidents for which disciplinary measures must be taken pursuant to the district’s code of conduct.

Peekskill Public School

Current Code of Conduct Adopted August 2011

Infraction:

Engaging in intimidating and bullying behavior,

including cyber-bullying threatening, stalking or

seeking to coerce or compel a student or staff

member to do something; engaging in verbal or

physical conduct that threatens another.

Disciplinary Action

1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense

Parent Notification

Administrative

Conference

Removal From Class

Suspension – minimum

5 days

Superintendent’s Hearing

Requested

police Involvement

Parent Notification

Administrative

Conference

Removal From Class

Suspension – minimum

5 days

Superintendent’s Hearing

Requested

police Involvement

Parent Notification

Administrative

Conference

Removal From Class

Suspension – minimum

5 days

Superintendent’s Hearing

Requested

police Involvement

What has LEAP and PKMS Done? Our efforts this year have focused on raising

awareness about bullying and cyber bullying with students and parents.

We conducted Parent workshops through Family University. Provided weekly town hall meetings for students to raise awareness, and daily institution of PBIS model. (Will Continue for next year)

We recruited Mr. John Halligan who told his own tragic experience as a Dad whose 13 year old son took his own life in 2003, after incessant bullying by peers since the 5th grade, both in school and online.

Andrus Sanctuary Model training during Summer School for staff.

Peekskill City School District

Dignity for All Students Act

Coordinators

District Coordinator – Maxine O’Connor

School Coordinators

Woodside Elementary Luz Gonzalez

Oakside Elementary James Smith

Hillcrest Elementary Alisha Williams-McCorvey

Peekskill Middle Nancy Ehrlich

Peekskill High Stacy Bean-Volkert

Q&A

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact