Dress Code

All students are expected to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to dress appropriately for school and school functions. Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and all other District personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting.

A student's dress, grooming and appearance, including but not limited to hair style/color, jewelry, play jewelry and trinkets, make-up (face or body paint), body or facial piercing, and nails, shall be safe and appropriate to the school environment. “Appropriate” means that one’s dress, grooming and appearance do not disrupt or interfere with the educational process, including the maintenance of public order and discipline. The following rules, although not exhaustive, provide specific information on how students can meet their obligations under the District’s Dress Code.

1. Tops, such as shirts and blouses, must be worn so that the torso, which includes the chest, midriff, and back, are covered. Over-sized garments or extremely brief garments showing midriffs or backs, or containing plunging necklines are prohibited.
2. Shorts, skirts, dresses, pants and similar outer garments must have an appropriate and modest length and fit. They are considered too short if, when fully extending one’s arm and hand along one’s side, the hem or cuff is higher than the fingertip of the index finger. In addition, the waistline of such apparel must be worn at the student’s waistline. The discretion of the building administrator or his/her designee may also be used to determine if a garment is inappropriate for school due to being too short, too tight, and/or too loose.
3. Undergarments must be fully covered by another garment, such as shorts, pants, skirt, dress, or top.
4. See-through garments are prohibited.
5. All garments worn indoors, including footwear, must be suitable for an indoor public school setting. Therefore, beachwear, sleepwear and similar types of garments are prohibited. In addition, the wearing of outdoor coats and jackets is not permitted in the school building, except for entering or leaving the building. Students are expected to remain fully clothed for school and related school functions.
6. Footwear must be worn at all times. Footwear may be deemed inappropriate by the principal or his/her designee due to the age of the students in the respective building. Footwear that contains wheels (e.g., ‘Heelys’, rollerblades, etc.) is not permitted.
7. A student’s dress, grooming and appearance must show proper public etiquette, as well as proper respect for self and others. Therefore:
   The wearing of hats and head attire, including but not limited to caps, "hoodies," "do-rags", “headwraps,” sweatbands, and bandanas, is prohibited indoors during the school day, except for a medical or religious purpose, or unless otherwise authorized by the school principal. Prohibited head attire also includes the wearing of hair picks and combs in the hair.
   One’s dress, grooming and appearance shall not include any item or characteristic that is vulgar, dangerous, obscene, libelous, or that denigrates others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
   No part of a student’s dress, grooming or appearance shall display, promote, encourage or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs or any illegal or violent activity.
   No part of a student’s dress, grooming or appearance shall violate any other part of the Code of Conduct.
   
8. The wearing of gang related or gang-like symbols, apparel, or colors is prohibited.
9. Every Middle School student is required to visibly wear a district issued photo identification tag during regular school hours. These tags are to be worn on a daily basis. The location of this tag (where it should be worn on the body) shall be determined by the building principal or his/her designee.

Each building principal or his or her designee shall be responsible for providing parents and students with a written summary of the student dress code at the beginning of the school year and any revisions to the dress code made during the school year. This may be supplemented by an optional meeting attended by all students and their parents.

Students who violate the student dress code shall be directed by an administrator to modify their appearance by covering or removing the offending item and if necessary or practical, replacing it with acceptable items. A student who refuses to comply with such direction will be disciplined for insubordination, which may include out of school suspension. If a student repeatedly fails to comply with the dress code, the parent(s) will be notified and further disciplinary measures may result.

Language Code

All students are expected to use appropriate and respectful language while on school property or attending school functions. Language must not be profane, demeaning, obscene, offensive, threatening, vulgar, or disrespectful in any way to others. Language and/or gestures must not denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or personal appearance.