Dignity For All Students Act (DASA)
Global Concepts Charter School seeks to create an environment free of harassment, bullying, and discrimination, to foster civility in its schools, and to prevent conduct which is inconsistent with its educational mission. Consistent with that goal, the School prohibits all forms of harassment and bullying of students by employees or other students on school property and at school functions. Global Concepts Charter School further prohibits discrimination against students, including but not limited to those acts based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex, by school employees or other students on school property and at school sponsored activities and events that take place at locations off school property. In addition, other acts of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination which can reasonably be expected to materially and substantially disrupt the education process may be subject to discipline or other corrective action.
Dignity Act Coordinator
For each level of our school (K-8 and High School) we will designate at least one (1) employee holding such licenses and/or certifications as required by the Commissioner to serve as the Dignity Act Coordinator(s). Each Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC) will be trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender and sex. Training will also be provided for DACs which addresses: the social patterns or harassment, bullying, and discrimination, including but not limited to those acts based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex; the identification and mitigation of harassment, bullying, and discrimination; strategies for effectively addressing problems of exclusion, bias, and aggression in educational settings. All DAC appointments will be approved by the Board of Trustees.
Global Concepts will share the name, designated school, and contact information of each Dignity Act Coordinator with all school personnel, students, and parents/persons in parental relation. This will be done by posting in highly visible places in each school building; making the information available at school offices; by placing the information on the School website; and by providing the information to parents and persons in parental relation in at least one School mailing or other method of distribution each year. Any change of appointment of a Dignity Act Coordinator will be posted on the School website and on posted notices in the buildings as soon as practicable after such appointment.
If a Dignity Act Coordinator vacates his/her position, another school employee shall immediately be designated for an interim appointment as Coordinator, pending approval from the Board of Trustees within thirty (30) days of the date the position was vacated. If a Coordinator is unable to perform the duties of the position for an extended period of time, another school employee shall immediately be designated for an interim appointment as Coordinator, pending the return of the previous Coordinator to the position.
Training And Awareness
Each year, employees will be provided with training to promote a supportive school environment that is free from harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, and to discourage and respond to incidents of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, and to discourage and respond to incidents of harassment, bullying, or discrimination. Such training may be provided in conjunction with existing professional development, and will:
1. Raise awareness and sensitivity to potential acts of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination;
2. Address social patterns of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination and the effects on students
3. Inform employees on the identification and mitigation of such acts;
4. Enable employees to prevent and respond to incidents of harassment, bullying and/or discrimination;
5. Make school employees aware of the effects of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and/or discrimination on students;
6. Provide strategies for effectively addressing problems of exclusion, bias and aggression;
7. Include safe and supportive school climate concepts in curriculum and classroom management; and
8. Ensure effective implementation of school policy on conduct and discipline.
Rules against bullying, discrimination, and/or harassment will be included in the Code of Conduct, publicized School-wide, and disseminated to all staff and parents. Any amendments to the Code will be disseminated as soon as possible, following their adoption. New teachers will be provided a completed copy of the current Code upon their employment, and an age-appropriate summary will be distributed to all students at the beginning of each school year.
Reports and Investigations of Harassmen, Bullying and/or Discrimination
Rules against bullying, discrimination, and/or harassment will be included in the Code of Conduct, publicized School-wide, and disseminated to all staff and parents. Any amendments to the Code will be disseminated as soon as possible, following their adoption. New teachers will be provided a completed copy of the current Code upon their employment, and an age-appropriate summary will be distributed to all students at the beginning of each school year.
The Principal, CEO, or the Principal's or Superintendent's designee will lead and/or supervise the thorough investigation of all reports of harassment, bullying, and discrimination, and ensure that such investigations are completed promptly after receipt of any such reports. All investigations will be conducted in accordance with law, the Global Concept's Code of Conduct, and applicable School policy and procedure. In the event allegations involve harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or disability, the School may utilize the procedures set forth in federal or New York State law and their implementing regulations, and in such protocols as may be adopted by the School. Where appropriate, the Dignity Act Coordinator or such other individual conducting the investigation, may request that the Board of Trustees authorize retaining outside assistance or expertise in investigating, responding to, and remedying complaints of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination.
In the event any such investigation reveals harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, the School will take prompt action reasonably calculated to end the harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, eliminate any hostile environment, create a more positive school culture and climate, prevent recurrence of the behavior, and ensure the safety of the student or students against whom such harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination was directed. Such actions will be taken consistent with applicable laws and regulations, School policies and administrative regulations, and collective bargaining agreements, as well as the School's Code of Conduct and any and all applicable guidelines approved by the Board.
The CEO, Principal, or his/her designee may notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency when it is believed that any incident of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination constitutes criminal conduct.
The Principal of the primary and secondary schools shall provide a regular report (at least once during each school year) on data and trends related to harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination to the Board of Trustees. Such a report shall be submitted in a manner prescribed by the Board.
Global Concepts Charter School will annually report material incidents of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination which occurred during the school year to the State Education Department. Such a report will be submitted in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner, on or before the basic educational data system (BEDS) reporting deadline or such other date as determined by the Commissioner.
- Prohibition of Retalitory Behavior (Commonly known as "Whistle Blower" Protection)
- Pursant to Section 16 of the Education Law, any person who has reasonable cause to suspect that a student has been subjected to harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination by an employee or student on school grounds or at a school function, who acts reasonable and in good faith and reports such information to school officials, the Commissioner of Education or law enforcement authorities, or otherwise initiates, testifies, participates, or assists in any formal or informal proceedings, will have immunity from any civil liability that may arise from making such report, or from initiating, testifying, participating, or assisting in such proceedings. Furthermore, the Board prohibits any retaliatory action against any person who, acting reasonably and in good faith, makes a report of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, or who otherwise initiates, testifies, participates, or assists in the investigation of a complaint of harassment, bullying, or discrimination.
- Publication of Policy
- At least once during each school year, all school employees, students, and parents will be provided with a written or electronic copy of this policy, or a plain-language summary thereof, including notification or the process by which students, parents, and school employees may report harassment, bullying, and discrimination. Additionally, Global Concepts Charter School will strive to maintain a current version of this policy on its website at all times.
- Application
- Nothing in this policy or its implementing regulations should be interpreted to preclude or limit any right or cause of action provided under any local, state, or federal ordinance, law or regulation including but not limited to any remedies or rights available under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
- Current Dignity Act Coordinator
- For the 2023-2024 school year, and until successors are appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Dignity Act Coordinators at Global Concepts Charter School are:
- Emily Jones - Assistant Principal - K8 Building (Grades K-4)
- Mike Fessell - Assistant Principal - K8 Building (Grades 5-8)
- Anthony Mackiewicz - Interim Assistant Principal - High School Building (Grades 9-12)
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
