N.Y. Education Law § 11: Definitions

§ 11. Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following

terms shall have the following meanings:

1. "School property" shall mean in or within any building, structure,

athletic playing field, playground, parking lot, or land contained

within the real property boundary line of a public elementary or

secondary school; or in or on a school bus, as defined in section one

hundred forty-two of the vehicle and traffic law.

2. "School function" shall mean a school-sponsored extra-curricular

event or activity.

3. "Disability" shall mean disability as defined in subdivision

twenty-one of section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law.

4. "Employee" shall mean employee as defined in subdivision three of

section eleven hundred twenty-five of this title.

5. "Sexual orientation" shall mean actual or perceived

heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality.

6. "Gender" shall mean actual or perceived sex and shall include a

person's gender identity or expression.

7. "Harassment" and "bullying" shall mean the creation of a hostile

environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including

cyberbullying, that (a) has or would have the effect of unreasonably and

substantially interfering with a student's educational performance,

opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being;

or (b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a

student to fear for his or her physical safety; or (c) reasonably causes

or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional

harm to a student; or (d) 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. Acts of harassment

and bullying shall include, but not be limited to, those acts based on a

person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin,

ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual

orientation, gender or sex. For the purposes of this definition the term

"threats, intimidation or abuse" shall include verbal and non-verbal

actions.

8. "Cyberbullying" shall mean harassment or bullying as defined in

subdivision seven of this section, including paragraphs (a), (b), (c)

and (d) of such subdivision, where such harassment or bullying occurs

through any form of electronic communication.

9. "Race" shall, for the purposes of this article include traits

historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair

texture and protective hairstyles.

10. "Protective hairstyles" shall include, but not be limited to, such

hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists.