New York State Center for School Safety
New York State Education Department
Material Incident
After investigating an incident, the Dignity Act Coordinator or school leader
must make a determination as to whether the incident is “material.” A
material incident under DASA is:
• An act or series of acts by a student and/or employee on school property,
or at a school function
• Creates a hostile environment by conduct
– with or without physical contact, and/or
– verbal threats, intimidation or abuse
• Conduct of such a severe or pervasive nature that it has the following
effect:
– unreasonably and substantially interferes with a student’s 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
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