Dignity Now: The Campaign to Stop Bullying and Bias-Harassment in New York City Schools, a white paper by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the New York City Bar Association’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Committee, uses legal analysis and students’ first-hand accounts to conclude that though Mayor Bloomberg and the DOE have made strides toward ending the problem of bullying and biased-based harassment in the schools, more effort is necessary. Pervasive harassment and bullying make schools hostile places, undermining students’ ability to flourish. Students who are routinely harassed and bullied often struggle to develop the self-confidence and social skills needed to succeed in life. The white paper recommends the following to the New York City Department of Education:

  • Fully implement Chancellor’s Regulation A-832;
  • Expand the regulation to include harassment perpetrated by school safety agents, teacher and staff;
  • Clarify and expand the regulation’s student and staff training requirements;
  • Implement a process of transparency, accountability and public reporting.