Posted September 28, 2012

"We must do all we can to ensure that every child in New York State feels safe in the classroom, and this new law will help our schools create an environment that is conducive to educational success,"

- Governor Andrew Cuomo

Officially signed into legislation on July 12, 2012, the Dignity for All Students Act sets out to strengthen a school's response to harassment and bullying through improved reporting, investigation, intervention, training and prevention.

In 2011-12, North Colonie formed a district-wide Dignity for All Committee consisting of teachers, parents and students. Their task was to digest the legislation and understand the new guidelines, in order to bring the information to the schools to build on the already existing character education programs.

“Our district has been pretty progressive in regards to Dignity for All Students,” SJHS student assistance counselor Stacey Angell said.

Angell, a member of the district Dignity Committee, is finding that students across the district are beginning to understand the new legislation, and for her, that is the first step.

“They understand that we’re there to help keep them safe and to support them,” she said.

The new legislation also establishes a protocol for reporting incidents. The legislation requires schools to take action when students experience cyberbullying or other forms of harassment. It ensures that school districts take immediate steps to end harmful behavior, prevent recurrences, and ensure the safety of the targeted students. Students and parents are now able to complete a confidential reporting form on the district website should an incident occur.

“What this does is it gives us a more formal reporting mechanism to that every single issue is being addressed and resolved,” Angell said. “There isn’t an incident that we don’t respond to. Everything is taken seriously.”

Bullying stories from schools across the nation are not new. In 2009, more than 7 million U.S. students ages 12-18 – representing 28 percent of all students in that age range – were bullied at school and more than 1.5 million students -- 6 percent – were subject to cyberbullying on or off school property. A 2011 survey of New York high school students revealed that, during the previous year, nearly 18 percent had been bullied on school property and 16 percent had experienced cyberbullying through e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, Web sites, texting or other electronic means.

Last year, Shaker High School held its first ever Bullying Awareness Week. Students created antibullying public service announcements that aired during morning announcements and worked hard to spread messages of understanding, tolerance, respect and civility. Many North Colonie elementary schools also participate in Rachel’s Challenge, a campaign designed to quell school violence and bullying.

The Dignity for All Students Act comes along at a time when many other academic mandates are being implemented in schools across the state. What it does is reinforce to administrators and teachers that the social development of students is just as important as the academic development.

“In an era of high stakes testing and standards, the legislation is counterbalance to all of that and it reminds us that we have a responsibility to educate the whole child,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Kathleen Skeals said.

You can learn more about the Dignity for All Students Act by visiting our website, http://northcolonie.org/dignity