The Dignity Act Task Force
A task force of key stakeholder groups in the education community, advocates, and Department staff continues to guide the implementation process. This Task Force was originally comprised of four Advisory Work Groups charged with conducting research and making recommendations to the members of the larger Task Force. The original four Advisory Work Groups include: (1) Local Policy and Implementation; (2) State Policy and Implementation; (3) Professional Development; and (4) Curriculum and Instructional Design. A fifth work group, (5) Outreach, was added in September 2011 to focus on promoting awareness of the law and its protections and requirements.
Engaging outside partners and advocates in this process continues to be critical in developing holistic strategies and recommendations. The Dignity Act Task Force is comprised of the following State agencies and offices, educational associations, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions:
State Agencies and Offices
- New York State Assemblyman O’Donnell
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
- New York State Division of Human Rights
- New York State Education Department
- New York State Executive Chamber
- New York State Office for Prevention of Domestic Violence
- New York State Office of Mental Health
- New York State Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance
- New York State Police
Educational Associations
- New York Association of Pupil Transportation
- New York City Council of School Administrators
- New York State Association of School Nurses
- New York State Association of School Psychologists
- New York State Center for School Safety
- New York State Council of School Superintendents
- New York State School Attorney’s Association
- New York State School Boards Association
- New York State School Social Workers Association
- New York State Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds Association
- New York State United Teachers
- School Administrators Association of New York State
Not-For-Profit Organizations
- Anti-Defamation League
- Center for Independence of Disabled
- Child Abuse Prevention Services
- Council on Islamic American Relations
- Empire State Pride Agenda
- Facing History and Ourselves
- Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network
- Girls for Gender Equity
- Hunts Point Alliance for Children
- Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
- New York Association of Gender Rights Advocates
- New York Civil Liberties Union
- New York State Middle School Association
- New York State Parent-Teacher Association
- Queering Education Research Institute (QuERI) at Syracuse University
- Sikh Coalition
- Trevor Project
- Youth Policy Institute
Educational Institutions
- Eastern Suffolk BOCES
- Genesee Valley BOCES
- Monroe-Woodbury Central School District
- Moravia Central School District
- New York City Department of Education
- Oceanside Union Free School District
- Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES
- Shenendehowa Central School District
- Syracuse City School District