Dress and Grooming

Students are expected to attend school in clean, neat . It is the mission of the District to provide academic education and education in morals, manners, dress and grooming because these are elements of good citizenship. Research has shown that student dress and grooming affect student attitudes and conduct. These guidelines are intended to define “appropriate student attire” and personal grooming. Their purpose is to prevent disruption of the classroom atmosphere, eliminate disturbances among other students in attendance, and minimize distraction of other students so as not to interfere with the educational process. It is also intended to help protect the health and welfare of the individual student.

The State of California has determined that “A pupil who goes to school without proper attention having been given to personal cleanliness or neatness of dress may be sent home to be properly prepared for school or shall be required to prepare himself for the schoolroom before entering.” (California Administrative Code, Title V, Section 302) Ragged, soiled, ill-fitting or “grubby” attire is unacceptable for school wear.

Responsibility for complying with this regulation and District standards which govern dress and grooming rests with students and their parents. School personnel (certificated and classified) have the responsibility of enforcing these established standards in to ensure that the instructional program of the school may operate fully and effectively for all students, free of interference and distraction, and without hazard or threat to their health, safety, and general welfare. Dress or appearance which distracts to the extent that it affects the educational program may be cause for suspension from school.

Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about dress and grooming standards at the beginning of the school year and whenever these standards are revised. A student who violates these standards shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Gang-Related Apparel

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the District to provide safe campuses. Therefore, any clothing, signs, attire, or paraphernalia which are identified by site administration as being “gang related” or which cause rival gangs to be openly hostile to each other or create an atmosphere of intimidation on campus may be forbidden as outlined below.

The principal, staff and parents/guardians at a school may establish a reasonable that prohibits students from wearing gang-related apparel, carrying gang paraphernalia, or making gestures that symbolize gang membership when there is evidence of a gang presence that disrupts or threatens to disrupt the school’s activities. Such a dress code may be included as part of the school safety plan and must be presented to the Board for approval. The Board shall approve the plan upon determining that it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the school’s students.

At individual schools that have a dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel at school or school activities, the principal, staff and parent/guardians participating in the development of the school safety plan shall define “gang-related apparel” and shall limit this definition to apparel that reasonably could be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school environment if it were worn or displayed on a school campus. (Education Code 32282)

Because gang-related symbols are constantly changing, definitions of gang-related apparel shall be reviewed at least once each semester and updated whenever related information is received.

DRESS CODE GUIDELINES

Clothing – Tops

1. All tops must be sufficient to conceal at all times.

2. No baggy or oversized fit is allowed.

3. No see-through or fish-net fabric is allowed.

4. may not be worn as an outer garment. 5. Tops may be worn untucked as long as the hem of the does not extend beyond the middle of the student’s hands when the arms are held at the side. All other should be worn with tails tucked in.

6. tops with thin straps may only be worn: a. Under an outer . b. Over another shirt.

7. Shirts/ worn to school may not be: a. Low-cut or revealing b. “Off-the-shoulder” c. Tube tops d. “Spaghetti” straps e. Halter tops f. Strapless

8. Tops that reveal a bare midriff are not allowed. As a test for appropriate length, the students must raise their arms above their head. If this reveals a bare midriff, then the top is too short.

9. Tank tops with straps of two inches or more may be worn as long as they comply with all other guidelines for dress.

10. , , vests, and sweatshirts worn to school may not be oversized.

11. Pajama tops may not be worn to school unless approved by the school administrator for a special school activity.

12. Tops, jackets, sweaters, vests, and sweatshirts with personal, hand-written writing, lettering, or drawing may be worn to school only with the pre-approval of the school administration for a specific school event or function.

13. Tops, jackets, sweaters, vests, and sweatshirts worn to school may not have logos and pictures which are crude, vulgar, profane; sexually suggestive; denigrate specific individuals; advocate racial/ethnic or religious prejudice; the use of drugs or alcohol; promote negative attitudes toward school and/or education, or is deemed by school administration to be “gang related”.

Clothing – Bottoms

All Bottoms

1. All pants and must be the proper size, length, and leg size with no baggy, oversized, or overlong fit.

2. The waist size of all pants and shorts must not be more than one inch bigger than the correctly measured student waist size.

3. No pants or shorts may be gathered or drawn together at the waist and cannot hang or sag below the waist.

4. Bib type or shorts may be worn only with: a. both straps buttoned and worn in their proper position, and b. With an appropriate shirt or underneath.

5. No pants or shorts may have any type of writing across the rear seat area.

6. No spandex pants or shorts are allowed at school. 7. Any bottoms which are deemed revealing or of such an extreme as to draw undue attention to the student are not allowed at school.

8. Bottoms worn to school may not have logos and pictures which are crude, vulgar, profane; sexually suggestive; denigrate specific individuals; advocate racial/ethnic or religious prejudice; the use of drugs or alcohol; promote negative attitudes toward school and/or education, or is deemed by school administration to be “gang related”.

Long Pants/Bottoms

1. Pant length should not touch or drag on the ground.

2. Pants cannot have frayed hems, frayed cuffs, holes, cuts, or rips in the material.

3. may only be worn under shorts, , or dresses which are mid-thigh in length or longer.

4. Capri-length pants may be worn.

5. Pajama bottoms may not be worn to school unless approved by the school administrator for a special school activity.

Shorts/Skirts//Dresses

1. The length of shorts, skirts, skorts, and dresses must be within the bounds of decency and in good taste as is appropriate for school.

2. Shorts, skirts, skorts, and dresses may be no shorter than mid-thigh.

3. If the shorts, skirts, skorts, or dresses have slits or notches, the top of the slits or notches cannot be any shorter than mid-thigh.

4. around and/or thin nylon “see through” shorts are neither acceptable nor permitted.

5. Shorts may be longer than knee length as long as they comply with all other guidelines for dress and are not identified by the site administration as being “gang related” apparel.

Belts

1. Belts must be appropriate for the student’s waist size and all excess length must be strapped through belt loops.

2. Belts may have lettering on the buckle as long as they comply with all other guidelines for dress and are not identified by the site administration as being “gang related” apparel.

3. Belt buckles which may pose a safety hazard are not allowed at school.

4. No chains may be attached to wallets.

Shoes

1. must be worn at all times. Athletic shoes are acceptable and encouraged for school wear. 2. Shoes in grades K-6 must have a closed toe. In grades 7-8, open-toed shoes may be worn except during physical education classes.

3. All shoes must have a back strap of at least ½ inch in width.

4. No “flip-flops” or thin-strapped may be worn to school.

5. No shoes with cleats or “rollers” may be worn to school.

6. All shoes must be worn as intended – buckled, tied, velcro straps fastened, etc., and be age-appropriate.

Caps//

1. , hats, or hoods on jackets, sweaters, etc. are not allowed to be worn in the classroom except those head coverings worn for religious reasons.

2. Caps, hats, or head coverings that are deemed by the school administration as interfering with the educational process are not allowed at school.

3. All caps, hats and head coverings must be worn as intended for sun protection. Caps may not be worn with the brim turned backwards or sideways.

4. Caps, hats, or head coverings with personal, hand-written writing, lettering, or drawing may be worn to school only with the pre-approval of the school administration for a specific school event or function.

5. Caps, hats, or head coverings worn to school may not have logos and pictures which are crude, vulgar, profane; sexually suggestive; denigrate specific individuals; advocate racial/ethnic or religious prejudice; the use of drugs or alcohol; promote negative attitudes toward school and/or education, or is deemed by school administration to be “gang related”.

6. Sunglasses may be worn to school for sun protection but may not be worn in the classroom unless the need is verified by a physician as medically necessary.

Book Binders/Notebooks/Bookbags/Backpacks/Purses/Jewelry

1. Binders, notebooks, bookbags, backpacks, and purses with personal, hand-written writing, lettering, or drawing may be worn to school only with the pre-approval of the school administration for a specific school event or function.

2. No “graffiti” of any kind may be written on book binders, notebooks, bookbags, backpacks, or purses.

3. Binders, notebooks, bookbags, backpacks, purses, and jewelry worn to school may not have logos and pictures which are crude, vulgar, profane; sexually suggestive; denigrate specific individuals; advocate racial/ethnic or religious prejudice; the use of drugs or alcohol; promote negative attitudes toward school and/or education, or is deemed by school administration to be “gang related”.

4. Schools may take the option to prohibit bookbags or backpacks at school during the last three days of the school year to ensure that students do not bring such items as shaving cream or water to school.

5. No jewelry or other ornamentation which poses a safety hazard may be worn, including but not limited to studded cuffs, hanging chains, etc.

Hair

1. Hair must be clean and neatly groomed.

2. Aerosol cans of hair color, containers of gel hair color, or any other hair color products are not allowed at school.

Makeup

1. Makeup, if used, must be applied in moderation.

2. Makeup is to be for the student’s personal use and not to be shared with other students.

3. Makeup may not be applied in the classroom.

4. No personal writing may be applied to the face or body.

With the approval of the site administration, coaches and teachers may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports and/or classes.

No grade of a student participating in a physical education class shall be adversely affected due to the fact that the student does not wear standardized physical education apparel where the failure to wear such apparel arises from circumstances beyond the student’s control. (Education Code 49066)

The principal, staff, students, and parents/guardians at each school may establish reasonable dress and grooming regulations for times when students are engaged in extracurricular or other special school activities.

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE 32281 School safety plans 35183 School dress codes; 35183.5 Sun-protecting clothing 48907 Student exercise of free expression 49066 Grades; effect of physical education class apparel

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5 302 Pupils to be neat and clean on entering school

COURT DECISIONS Marvin H. Jeglin et al v. San Jacinto Unified School District et al, (C.D. Cal 1993) 827 F. Supp 1459

(10-10-78; 04-06-93; 04-23-96; 06-10-97; 01-13-98; 03-13-07)