NYC Administrative Code

§ 10-137 — * Prevention of harassment on school premises.

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What is NYC AC § 10-137?

Quick Answer

This section prohibits harassment on school premises and at school functions, defining harassment and outlining the responsibilities of the New York City Department of Education. It mandates the creation of policies to prevent harassment and ensure a safe educational environment. Applies to public school students and staff within the New York City public school system.

General informational summary. Not legal advice for your situation. Consult an attorney before acting on any specific matter.

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§ 10-137.

AC § 10-137

a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1. "Department" shall mean the New York city department of education.

2."Gender" shall mean actual or perceived sex and shall also include a person's gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the legal sex assigned to that person at birth.

3."Harassment" shall mean the creation of a hostile environment by, in whole or in part, conduct or verbal threats, taunting, intimidation or abuse, including conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse for any reason, including, but not limited to, a person's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex, family composition or circumstance, economic circumstance, physical characteristic, medical condition, school performance or any other characteristic or reason that has or would reasonably have the effect of substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or a student's mental, emotional or physical well-being, or that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student or other person to fear for his or her physical safety.

4."Retaliatory action" shall mean, but not be limited to, dismissal, demotion, suspension, disciplinary action, negative performance evaluation, any action resulting in loss of staff, compensation or other benefit, failure to hire, failure to appoint, failure to promote, or transfer or assignment or failure to transfer or assign against the wishes of the affected person.

5."School" shall mean each school within the New York city public school system that provides educational instruction to students at or below the twelfth grade level.

6."School function" shall mean a school-sponsored extra-curricular event or activity or any event that takes place on school premises.

7."School premises" shall mean the buildings, grounds or facilities, or any portion thereof, owned, occupied by, or under the custody or control of the department or of a school, used for the primary purpose of providing educational instruction to students at or below the twelfth grade level, and any vehicles owned, operated or leased by or on behalf of such institutions that are used to transport such students or the personnel of such institutions. School premises shall also include public transportation, such as subways, buses and ferries, when students use such public transportation to attend school or a school function. b. Prohibition of harassment. No person shall subject another person to harassment on school premises or at a school function. c. Policies and guidelines.

1.The chancellor of the city public school system shall create policies and guidelines, in accordance with the procedures set forth in subdivision three of section 2801 of the New York state education law, designed to create an environment for each school that is free from harassment. Such policies and guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, penalties or disciplinary measures for those found to have violated such policies and guidelines, and shall indicate when incidents of harassment must be reported to law enforcement authorities. Such policies and guidelines shall also specify that harassment is a basis for granting to a student who has been harassed a transfer to another school, commonly called a "safety transfer," and that harassment is a basis for disciplining any student who engages or has engaged in the harassment of others.

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