Districtwide Bullying Prevention/Response Training

Greece Central School DistrictCode of Conduct Overview:New York State Education DepartmentDignity for All Students Act2013-2014____________________

Update

Code of Conduct/Dignity Act Overview : August 2013

1Welcome. Discuss rationale of providing updates to Act, also to ensure consistency, and also changes in reporting form for ease of reporting to state.

Additional information on the Dignity Act may be found at: WWW.P12.NYSED.GOV/DIGNITYACT.

Guidelines and RegulationsGreece Central School District Code of Conduct aligned with:

Federal Guidelines

State Checklist

Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Legislation

Dignity for All Students Act 2012

Local Policies and Procedures: Attendance Policies and Procedures and District Wide Safety Plans Stakeholder GroupsCode of Conduct Review and Feedback from:

Greece Central School Districts Attorney

K-12 Principals/Staff

Building Leadership Teams

District Representatives

Superintendents Cabinet

Student Representatives

Parent Representatives

District Director of Security

Code of Conduct Summary VersionsPlain Language Summary/Abridged Version

Age-appropriate version (on District Website) Based on Dignity Act requirements

Abridged version (on District Website)Reflects Dignity Act requirementsAligned with full code based on review and feedback

Amendment to the Dignity Act: Effective July 1, 2013 (Chapter 102 Laws of 2012)The following provisions are in addition to the original Dignity Act (see handout)CyberbullyingReports of Harassment, Bullying and DiscriminationInvestigation of ReportsResponse to Verified ReportsEmployee ReportingNotification of Law Enforcement.Professional CertificationCurriculumGuidance and Educational MaterialsDAC (Principal): Designated as point person that students know they can report to if there has been an incident of harassment or discrimination. DAC ensures safe, positive school climate Designee: Designated by principal or superintendent to conduct investigations, take reports, and follow up to prevent further occurrencesDignity Act Coordinator (DAC)/Designee

6Defining A Material Incident of Discrimination and/or HarassmentA single incident or a series of related incidents where a student is subjected to discrimination and/or harassment by a student and/or employee on school property or at a school function that creates a hostile environment by conduct, with or without physical contact and/or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse, of such severe or pervasive nature that:has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a students educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional and/or physical well-being; orreasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety orreasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; oroccurs off school property and creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property. 7It is critical that schools keep in mind that only MATERIAL INCIDENTS of discrimination and/or harassment are to be reported on the annual submission to the State Education Department.

Material incidents are defined as:

A single incident OR a series of related incidents where a student is subjected to discrimination and/or harassment by a student AND/OR employee on school property or at a school function that creates a hostile environment by conduct, with or without physical contact and/or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse, of such severe or pervasive nature that:

has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a students educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional and/or physical well-being; or

reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety.

Material incidents of discrimination and/or harassment include, but not are not limited to, threats, intimidation or abuse based on a persons actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.Dignity Act Reporting Basics8Material incidents of discrimination and/or harassment include, but not are not limited to, threats, intimidation or abuse based on a persons actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.

Dignity Act Reporting BasicsReport material incidents of discrimination and/or harassment that:are the result of the investigation of a written or oral complaint made to the school principal or other school administrator responsible for school discipline, or to any other school employee; orare otherwise directly observed by such principal or administrator, or by any other school employee regardless of whether a complaint is made.

Prevent retaliatory action against any such person who, reports acting reasonably and in good faith

9Annual Dignity Act reports must be submitted by all BOCES, school districts, and charter schools.

The purpose of the annual public school report to the State Education Department is to summarize all material incidents of discrimination and/or harassment which occurred in the previous school year on school property (including on school buses) and/or at school functions.

The report for the 2012-13 (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013) school year will be due following the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year in September 2013.Bullying Reporting ProcessOne day to orally report to DAC/Designee, two days to put in writing

Harassment, Discrimination, Bullying (HDB) Reporting Form must be completed for all reported incidents

Reviewed by school administrators to investigate and to address behaviors, determine needs and align response with Code of Conduct

Harassment, Discrimination, and/or Bullying Incident Reportand Investigation Form

Available online11 Communication: ImplementationParents Informed of Code of Conduct/Dignity for All Students Act

Web SitePaper Copies at School Building/Mailed HomeParent ForumsNewslettersIndividual Parent Meetings Enforce: ImplementationProgressive Discipline to Enforce Code of Conduct

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)Olweus Bullying Prevention CurriculumTeaching Desired BehaviorsCorrective and Supportive InterventionsConsequences Based on BehaviorsConsistent ApproachConsider Circumstances, Student Needs, Nature and Severity of Behavior, Impact on School Climate

Current Practices: ImplementationReview Research-Based School Practices

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)Professional Development for StaffBehavioral Lessons for Students Olweus Bullying Prevention ProgramThe Leader in MeFamily Friendly SchoolsBook Studies

ResourcesNew York State Education Department Office of Student Support Services518-486-6090DASA@MAIL.NYSED.GOV

Dignity Act Web Sitewww.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact

NYS Center for School Safety http://nyscenterforschoolsafety.org/Dignity Act Data Reporting Overview Webinar: September 2013

15For additional information and resources on the Dignity Act, please visit the Education Departments Dignity Act web site at:www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact or the Dignity Act Facebook page at:www.facebook.com/dignity act.

To ask questions related to the Dignity Act please email:DASA@MAIL.NYSED.GOV or call 518-486-6090.

Thank you for your time.