Teacher Involvement with the Dignity for All Students Act

Abstract

Bullying and harassment concerns are increasing in schools and causing significant problems for students, school staff, and families. The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) is New York State legislation that targets bullying in schools. This mixed methods study examined how well teachers implement DASA. A survey was administered to teachers of grades 6 – 8 in a small school district. While most teachers have implemented the various parts of DASA, there is still room for improvement. Most teachers found out about a bullying or harassment incident, but few completed the DASA report form. While all teachers included DASA information in their curriculum, some included it minimally. Teachers with more experience in the district were less likely to witness a bullying incident than teachers with less experience in the district. The researcher recommends a comprehensive program to support DASA initiatives in this district.