"New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. The Dignity Act also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes. The Dignity Act further amended Section 2801 of the Education Law by requiring Boards of Education to include language addressing The Dignity Act in their codes of conduct."

The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. 

The goal of The Dignity Act is to create a safe and supportive climate where students can learn and focus, rather than fear being discriminated against and/or verbally and/or physically harassed.

(From the NYS Department of Education website)

 See also the LCS District Code of Conduct

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Livonia’s Student Code of Conduct, in compliance with the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), prohibits harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination against any student, by employees or students on school property or at a school function, that creates a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyberbullying, where:

1. The conduct interferes with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits.

2. The conduct causes a student to fear for his/her physical safety or causes emotional harm.

3. The conduct is expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student.

4. The conduct occurs 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.

Students who are socially capable, who feel safe, supported, and challenged, have been proven to show greater academic outcomes. A full copy of the District’s Code of Conduct may be found here, or by contacting the District Office at 346-4000, ext. 4100.

How can students and family members report incidents of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination?

Safety is one of the District’s top priorities. Suppose a student feels that they have been a victim of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, including cyberbullying, on school property or at a school function, or off of school property, to the degree that the actions interfered with their education or caused them to fear for their safety. In that case, they should report this conduct immediately to the nearest staff member or, if they wish to remain anonymous, they may do so by emailing the District’s tipline speakup@livoniacsd.org or by texting or calling (585) 308-4331. Parents and family members may also report all conduct covered under the Dignity Act by calling their student’s main office and asking to speak with their Dignity Act Coordinator. Those numbers are listed below. The Dignity Act legislation requires that staff members must report all incidents to school officials within one school day.

What are the consequences for harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination?

The consequences for harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination in any form will follow a progressive model that may vary in method according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, and the student’s history of problem behaviors.

Consequences may include:

1. Warning (Verbal or Written)

2. Parent Notification

3. Disciplinary Consequences (Detentions, late detentions)

4. Suspension from class, athletics, activities, transportation, and/or school

5. Law enforcement may be contacted

Code of Conduct

To facilitate a safe environment where students can Achieve and Thrive, the Board has developed a Code of Conduct that includes all of the components that are required by New York State Law. The Code applies to everyone visiting the school buildings or property — students, teachers, staff, parents, and visitors.

The actual Code of Conduct is a very long and detailed document and is on file at each of the school offices. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy or to read over the Code may do so during regular business hours at any school office.

All students, school personnel, parents, and visitors to school property and school functions are expected to understand what conduct is allowed and what conduct is prohibited.

The following is a summary of the Code of Conduct. For a complete version, please contact any school office.

The Livonia Central School Code of Conduct contains provisions regarding:

• Students’ rights and responsibilities;

• Appropriate conduct, dress, and language;

• Security and safety of students and personnel;

• Prohibited student conduct;

• Disciplinary consequences and procedure;

• Disciplinary measures to be taken for incidents involving illegal substances, weapons, the use of physical force, vandalism, violation of another student’s civil rights, harassment, and threats of physical violence;

• Student removal from a classroom, GV Educational Partnership property, or a Partnership function for substantially disruptive behavior;

• Compliance with state and federal laws relating to students with disabilities;

• Law enforcement notification for Code violations which constitute a crime;

• Parent/person in parental relation to the student notification of Code violation;

• Juvenile delinquency petition or person in need of supervision (“PINS”) petition;

• Referrals to appropriate human services agencies;

• Minimum suspension periods for students who are violent or who repeatedly are substantially disruptive or who substantially interfere with the teacher’s authority in the classroom;

• Visitors to the GV Educational Partnership;

• Public conduct on Partnership property;

• Dissemination of the Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct required by State Law is much more than just another requirement to address. This Code offers us the opportunity to reflect on student responsibilities and appropriate behaviors in a changing society and provides staff and school personnel a basis for discussing how we can better serve all of our students as they grow and “Thrive”.

Indeed, the Code of Conduct is related to the “Thrive” in our Achieve and Thrive vision. It is also vital to establish a safe, respectful, orderly, and nurturing environment if children are to achieve at their maximum potential.