Dignity for All Students (DASA)
The goal of the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), which took effect July 1, 2012, is to provide students with a school environment free of discrimination and harassment by peers and by school personnel. It applies to behaviors on school property, in school buildings, on a school bus, as well as at school-sponsored events or activities. Incidents of harassment and discrimination may include, but are not limited to, threats, intimidation or abuse 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), and sex. These eleven categories are referred to as protected classes.
In addition, amendments to the regulation (effective July 1, 2013) have added explicit references prohibiting bullying and cyber bullying.
DASA includes provisions that alter reporting, codes of conduct, professional development, and classroom instruction. At least one highly-trained employee will be designated as a DASA coordinator in each school and will be responsible for receiving and reporting incidents. In addition, training is to be provided to staff and students in order to raise awareness, provide strategies for prevention, and offer methods of responding to acts of discrimination and/or harassment. Finally, schools will be required to collect and report data related to “material incidents” of discrimination and harassment.