Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
Program Description:
Dignity for All Students Act Training in Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools
Every student deserves a school environment where they feel safe, respected, and valued. This six-hour workshop provides the training required by New York State for all individuals seeking certification as school professionals. Teachers College, Columbia University is a provider approved by the New York State Education Department.
Grounded in the Dignity for All Students Act (Article 2, Sections 10–18 of the Education Law), this workshop takes a proactive approach to school safety, focusing not just on preventing harm, but on building affirming, inclusive school cultures where all students can thrive. Topics covered include:
- The intent, key components, and operational definitions of the Dignity for All Students Act
- Social patterns of harassment, bullying, and discrimination, including marginalization and microaggressions
- Protected categories under the Dignity Act, including race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender
- Cyberbullying: forms, warning signs, and intervention strategies
- The distinction between conflict and bullying, and how to respond to each appropriately
- Indicators and early warning signs of harassment, bullying, and discrimination
- Prevention and intervention strategies, including how to interact with families of both students who have been bullied, and students who exhibit bullying behaviors
- School climate and culture, and their impact on student achievement and behavior
- Strategies for addressing exclusion, bias, and aggression in educational settings
- Reporting requirements for educators under the Dignity Act
Workshop Format
This workshop combines three hours of self-paced asynchronous modules with a three-hour live Zoom session. Approximately ten days before your Zoom date, you will receive access to the DASA Canvas course with interactive modules to complete on your own schedule. All asynchronous work must be completed prior to the live session.