A Resource and Promising Practices Guide for School Administrators & Faculty
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PREFACE
The New York State Dignity for All Students Act (Dignity Act): A Resource and Promising Practices Guide for School Administrators and Faculty was developed by the Dignity Act Task Force to help schools implement the Dignity Act.
This resource guide includes links to web sites that contain information about interventions, programs, and resources to aid schools in developing lessons that integrate the Dignity Act principles. Please evaluate each resource to determine if it is developmentally age appropriate for your school population. The State Education Department and the Dignity Act Task Force do not endorse any commercial or for-profit programs. Please note that this document is being disseminated for informational purposes only and that school districts, charter schools and BOCES should consult with their school attorneys regarding specific legal questions. Analyses of examples and hypothetical situations contained herein do not represent official determination(s) or interpretation(s) by the Department. Please note that any scenarios described in this Guide may be the subject of an appeal to the Commissioner of Education under section 310 of the Education Law; as a result, the information contained herein is advisory only and does not necessarily represent the official legal interpretation of the State Education Department.
The Dignity Act Task Force encourages educators to creatively incorporate the principles addressed within the Dignity Act into core subjects. These principles state that all students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools have the right to attend school in an environment free of discrimination and harassment, including but not limited to, conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse on school property, on a school bus, or at school-sponsored events based on a person’s actual or perceived: race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), or sex.
The Dignity Act Task Force is comprised of the following agencies and offices, educational associations, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions: The Dignity Act Task Force
Schools are encouraged to use the resources in this guide to aid in augmenting or developing programs and lessons. In addition, any core subject area can incorporate Dignity Act principles into the lesson. Examples of this strategy may include the following:
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The following resources could serve as a critical foundation in developing a comprehensive Dignity Act program in your school:
Educating the Whole Child Engaging the Whole School: Guidelines and Resources for Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) in New York State
www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/sedl/SEDLguidelines.pdf
This guidance document aims to give New York State school communities a rationale and the confidence to address child and adolescent affective development as well as cognitive development. By attending to the students’ social-emotional brain development and creating conditions where school environments are safe and supportive, teachers can teach more effectively, students learn better, and parents and community can feel pride in a shared enterprise. The guidelines and accompanying resources seek to persuade school leaders, faculties, planning teams and parents that social and emotional development and learning is within reach through a range of approaches that serve as entry points and avenues for expansion.
U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Healthy Students
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oshs/index.html
This page addresses the federal Office of Safe and Healthy Students and provides resources to school districts to implement programs and services to prevent violence in schools, as well as drug and substance abuse. Information on this page is directly related to the requirements and provisions of the Act and is especially suited for administrators and others interested in understanding these requirements. This includes resources related to anti-bullying and positive school environment resources.