Your Rights Under the Dignity for All Students Act

The Dignity Act

Who is protected under the Dignity Act?

The Dignity Act protects all students from Pre-K to 12th grade who attend public, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), or charter schools in New York State.

It prohibits bullying, harassment and discrimination of any kind in schools, including based on a student’s race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, sex, weight, disability, and more.

Who is required to follow the Dignity Act?

Everyone in the school – students and staff – is required to follow the Dignity Act. This includes all school employees like teachers, administrators, custodians, guidance counselors, student support staff, bus drivers, and volunteers who interact with students.

School board members and school resource officers (police officers) are not employed by the district and are not required to follow the Dignity Act. If your school hires private security guards, they are required to follow the Dignity Act.

Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination

What counts as bullying, harassment and discrimination?

Bullying and harassment: When someone at school (a classmate, teacher, staff member, etc.) uses actions, threats, or other intimidating behavior to interfere with your education or well-being, make you fear for your safety, cause physical or emotional harm, or keep you from learning or doing school activities.

Discrimination: When you’re treated unfairly because of your identity. This includes being kept out of activities, getting different punishments from other students, or not getting the same opportunities because of your identity.

Does the Dignity Act protect me if I wear cultural or natural hairstyles?

The Dignity Act includes the CROWN Act, which protects students wearing afros and protective hairstyles such as braids, locs, twists, Bantu knots, and other natural hairstyles. Schools cannot ban these types of hairstyles, and no one at school can harass, bully, or discriminate against you because you are wearing a hairstyle connected to your racial or ethnic identity.

Am I protected as an LGBTQ+ student?

Yes. For more information on LGBTQ+ students’ rights, see Your Rights as an LGBTQ Student and Your Rights as a Transgender, Gender-Nonconforming, Nonbinary, or Intersex Student.

Am I protected as an immigrant student?

Yes. For more information on immigrant students’ rights in school, see Immigrant Students’ Rights in New York.

Cyberbullying and Bullying Outside of School

Does the Dignity Act protect me from cyberbullying?

Yes. When social media, text messages, group chats, or online posts are sent to you or spread to other students and cause or could cause a “substantial disruption” in school, this can violate the Dignity Act. A substantial disruption in school can include if other students from your school are involved and it affects your learning or it makes you afraid to attend school. This is true even if the texts or posts are sent from home or on the weekends.

What if I am bullied outside of school?

The Dignity Act protects you on the school bus, on field trips, at extracurricular activities, and at school sporting events.

It can protect you off-campus and outside of school hours if your classmates are bullying or harassing you online or in your neighborhood, and it is affecting your classroom learning or making you afraid to attend school. There are limits on when a school can punish students for off-campus behavior, but that does not mean your school can’t take action to protect you in other ways, such as a parent conference.

Reporting a Complaint

How do I report a complaint?

Report your complaint to your school’s DASA coordinator. This is a designated staff member who is trained to address harassment, bullying and discrimination. The coordinator’s name, phone number, and email is required to be listed on the school or district website and in your code of conduct.

You can also talk to any trusted adult in the school, such as your teacher, counselor, social worker or administrator. If you report to a staff member who is not the DASA coordinator, they must share your report with the DASA coordinator in writing within two days.

Your school may have a DASA complaint form available online or in the main office.

Can I report on behalf of my child or my friend?

Yes. Anyone – including students, parents, and staff – can file a complaint, even if they are not personally involved.

Can I report a single incident?

Yes. You don’t have to wait for it to happen again to speak up. One act – whether it’s a comment, gesture, message, or physical attack – can be enough to violate the Dignity Act.

What happens after I file a complaint?

The school should begin an investigation. Check your code of conduct to see how long your school district has to complete the investigation, because it isn’t the same in every district. The investigation may include speaking with you about what happened, interviewing witnesses or others involved, and looking at evidence like text messages, social media posts, and videos. After the investigation, the school will decide whether your complaint is “material” or not.

A complaint is “material” when the school investigation confirms that the abuse, bullying, or harassment took place and that it could disrupt your learning or participation in school activities.

My school decided my complaint was material. What happens next?

If your complaint is found to be material, the school has to take action right away to stop the harmful behavior, prevent it from happening again, and make sure you feel safe at school. This could include providing support services, taking disciplinary action against the person or people who caused harm, or making changes to your schedule meant to keep you safe. Because of privacy laws, the school might not tell you how other students or staff members were disciplined.

My school decided my complaint wasn’t material. Is there anything they can do?

Yes. Schools may still help you resolve conflicts, offer supportive measures, or monitor the situation to make sure you feel safe.

Can I appeal the school’s decision?

Yes. If you disagree with the school’s decision, you have the right to appeal. Each school district has its own appeal process. Check your district’s website or contact the school to find out what steps to take.

If you disagree with the district’s decision, you can then appeal to the New York State Commissioner of Education, but only within 30 days of the school district telling you what their decision was.

My school is not responding to me, what can I do?

You have the right to keep telling people about your concerns. You can:

• Report the issue again to the DASA Coordinator or another trusted staff member.
• Ask for a written explanation of what was done to address your complaint.

If the complaint involves you being discriminated against or not being allowed access to school facilities like bathrooms, locker rooms, or clubs and sports:

• Report the issue to the New York Attorney General.
• Report the issue to the New York Division on Human Rights.

Can I get in trouble for filing a DASA complaint or participating in an investigation?

No. You have the right to be protected from retaliation, which means that no one is allowed to harass or punish you for reporting bullying, harassment, or discrimination.

Advocacy Tips for Families

• Keep a detailed record of each incident. Include the date, time, location, what happened, who was involved, and any evidence.
• Communicate with school and district staff in writing as much as possible. Save a copy of all complaints and emails. If you submit a complaint on an online portal, keep a record of your responses or take a screenshot.
• For in-person or phone conversations, follow up with an email describing the conversation and save a copy of this email.
• If you need support, consider reaching out to local community groups. They may be able to help you write letters or contact the district to express your concerns.