Eastern Suffolk BOCES seeks to create an environment free of harassment, bullying, and discrimination, to foster civility in its facilities, and to prevent conduct that is inconsistent with its educational mission. ESBOCES, therefore, prohibits all forms of harassment and bullying of students by employees or other students on ESBOCES property and at ESBOCES functions.

ESBOCES further prohibits discrimination against students, including, but not limited to, discriminatory acts based upon a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex by employees or other students on ESBOCES property and at ESBOCES functions.

In addition, other acts of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination that occur off ESBOCES property may be subject to discipline or other corrective action, where such acts create or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the ESBOCES environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation, or abuse might reach ESBOCES property.

For more information, contact the Dignity Act Coordinator in your child’s school. Names, locations and contact information for each school building’s Dignity Act Coordinators

You can also get more information from the New York State Education Department website about the Dignity for All Students Act at www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/  and the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) legislation at www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/ssae/schoolsafety/save/