Dignity For All Students Act DASA A Guide for Buffalo Public School Administrators

Objectives: Understand DASA regulations and responsibilities Know how to access materials to assist in implementation Obtain information about PBIS professional development

Agenda DASA regulations Responsibilities Reporting Materials available to assist PBIS Professional Development offerings Questions

What is bullying? Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behavior by one or more individuals in order to intentionally hurt another person physically or emotionally.

What are the main features? Deliberate – a bully’s intention to hurt someone Repeated – a bully often targets the same victim again and again Power imbalance – a bully chooses victims he or she perceives as vulnerable It is NOT: A disagreement among friends or playful teasing where both people think it is funny.

DASA NYS Law in effect July, 2012 Response to recent tragedies and lawsuits regarding acts of bullying in schools Requires districts and schools to prevent, monitor and address harassment, discrimination and bullying.

5 Areas of Regulation: Policy (Code of Conduct) Civility, citizenship and character education (student instruction) Designation of a Dignity Act Coordinator (reporting and responding) School employee training Regulation in relation to reporting

Policy Code of Conduct DASA information “Stop Bullying Now” on the Buffalo Schools Homepage

Civility, Citizenship, and Character Education Student education: Information about DASA (powerpoint) Lesson plans (Safe and Civil Schools) Lessons incorporated into content (by teacher and subject area) Information about reporting (signs and powerpoint) Also, the school needs to provide character education and lessons on bullying and harassment. (You may already have some programs in place that can support that, otherwise some lessons are provided). It is also encouraged that educators incorporate the principles embodied by the Dignity Act into core subject areas. Students and staff need to be informed of who the Dignity Act Coordinator is and ways that they can report. Three ways to report – Tell DASA Coordinator, tell any adult and that adult tells DASA coordinator (all adults in the building are responsible to report acts of bullying and harassment to the DASA coordinator) and students can make a report anonymously on the school website.

Report Bullying and Harassment in Room 236 or on the SPHS website Be an Upstander Report Bullying and Harassment in Room 236 or on the SPHS website Develop signs and post around the building to let students know how to report.

Designation of a Dignity Act Coordinator In BPS, it is the principal at each building Documenting of, reporting of, and responding to incidents Overseeing and documenting implementation of all areas of regulation– see example Sign needs to be posted in each building identifying the DASA Coordinator (provided) All incidents of bullying, harassment and discrimination will be reported to the DASA coordinator. This includes acts witnessed by any person in the building and includes acts that adults commit against students.

Documentation of Implementation of DASA 2012-2013 9/4/12 Brief overview with staff regarding DASA 9/7/12 Safety/Bully/Harassment Lessons covered in classes with all students   9/20-9/25/12 DASA presentation to students in auditorium during all PE and JROTC classes. Included powerpoint, video Bystanders.   9/25/12 Signs posted around building about reporting bullying and being an “Upstander”   10/3-10/10/12 Announcement made each morning about how to report bullying on the school website.   10/10/12 DASA presentation to staff at faculty meeting   Daily Courage and Kindness quotes read (some days) as part of “Rule Reminder of the Day” for announcements   Bi-weekly GSA meetings

Designate: Principal may designate some responsibilities not related to reporting, but is ultimately responsible for compliance

School Employee Training All school employees must be trained regarding DASA and reporting procedures. (use provided staff powerpoint) Effective supervision must be in place (expect, correct, connect, protect) All school employees are expected to protect students from bullying and harassment from other students and from adults and report it to the DASA Coordinator. All adults are responsible to not commit acts of bullying. 1) ALL school employees – maintenance, cafeteria, aides, etc. 2) Bullying happens where there is not effective supervision – need to ensure effective supervision in your building –

School Employee Training Powerpoint provided Think of ways to get training to non- teaching staff Consider sharing You Tube video “How My Son Was Humiliated and Tormented by His Teacher Aide” (staff only – not appropriate for students) Ways to improve supervision practices

Reporting Record ALL incidents of validated Bullying/Harassment per District definition (see slides 4 and 5) in Infinite Campus Select appropriate codes Periodically review data as best practice

Resources Example of documentation of compliance On the “Stop Bullying Now” tab of BPS website: Example of documentation of compliance Link for “A Resource and Promising Practices Guide for School Administrators and Faculty” http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/resource guide.html Powerpoint for staff Powerpoint for students (and accompanying test for understanding) This powerpoint

Resources Con’t Resources and activity guide/suggestions Daily announcements Lesson plans on bullying and harassment Sign to post identifying the DASA coordinator

Questions? What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased. Author Unknown