Courtesy of NYSED
The letter that Attorney General Schneiderman and State Education Commissioner Elia recently sent to school leaders provides resources for complying with DASA, and preventing and addressing hate-based actions.
By Forum Staff
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia recently sent a letter to all New York school districts with guidance on how to ensure schools are “safe havens” where students are free to learn without fear of discrimination, harassment or intimidation directed toward students and employees as a result of their race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis.
“There is literally nothing more important than the safety of our children. As adults we are morally bound to ensure both their physical and emotional well-being,” Elia said last Friday. “Students must feel safe in the classroom to be able to learn. As state and educational leaders, it is our responsibility to foster an open dialogue with students and employees about discrimination, harassment and intimidation and send a strong message that these types of behaviors will not be tolerated in our schools. I am so pleased that our state’s leadership – Governor Cuomo, Attorney General Schneiderman, Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Flanagan – recognize the importance of supporting our schools as they address this difficult issue with our children. I encourage school leaders to host gatherings for students and employees to help prevent hate-based words and actions and to inform them of what to do if they witness or experience any such hateful acts.”
In the letter, Schneiderman and Elia reference news reports from the past week regarding “a number of disturbing incidents of bias and hate-based acts of bigotry, including vandalism, harassment, bullying, and even violence” across the state.
“As the leaders of New York’s education and law enforcement agencies, we want to remind all school administrators and school communities that these types of acts are counter to our shared values, and that the law empowers school districts to respond to such acts,” the officials wrote.
The Dignity for All Students Act of 2012 is that legislation. Signed into law “to provide students with a safe environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying on school property, on a school bus, or at a school function,” DASA requires schools to provide students, persons in parental roles, and staff with information about DASA and to develop policies and procedures that require a safe school environment.
“Specifically,” Schneiderman and Elia wrote, “DASA requires school districts to develop Codes of Conduct that prohibit harassment, bullying (including cyberbullying), and discrimination against students by other students or school employees, as well as provisions for responding to incidents of discrimination and harassment and reporting such incidents to the New York State Education Department.”
Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan (D-Long Island City), chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee, commended Schneiderman and Elia “for their swift attention and response” to the recent uptick in hate-based incidents.
“It is absolutely critical that students feel safe and supported during their time at school,” Nolan added. “Thanks to the leadership of Assembly member Danny O’Donnell and his commitment to protecting our children with the Dignity for All Students Act, we have a strong foundation from which to step up our efforts.”
