DRESS AND GROOMING

The District's dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, prevent disruption, and minimize safety hazards.  We expect students to come to school in clothes that are clean and neat, and we expect students to exhibit basic cleanliness and grooming that will not be a health and safety threat to themselves or to other students or staff.  We respect students' desires to express themselves in their clothing and grooming style.  However, we do not permit students to wear clothing with pictures, emblems, or writing that is lewd, offensive, vulgar, obscene or violent, nor that advertises or depicts tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other substance that students are prohibited from having or using at school.  Also prohibited is any apparel that deals with death, suicide, or any type of killing. Students and parents may determine a student's personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following:

Appropriate and modest attire is required.

The following clothing items, dress and appearance are unacceptable:

Mini skirts, tight shorts, or "short" shorts

Visible undergarments

Tank tops with straps less than 2 inches wide

Muscle shirts, mesh tops, see-through tops, halter tops, and tops that expose female cleavage

Clothing that exposes bare midriffs

Bicycle riding shorts

Altered dress (i.e. slits in pants)

Spaghetti straps unless over or under an acceptable shirt

Exposed backs

Sagging or baggy pants or shorts (Pants and shorts are to be worn correctly at all times.)

Pajama pants

House shoes

Visible body piercing or clippings except in the ears of girls

Visible body piercing or clippings for boys

Permanent visible tattoos

Hat, caps, and other head coverings in the buildings during instructional hours.  (They must be worn correctly while attending school sponsored functions.)

Unconventional hairstyles which, in the opinion of the principal, cause distractions in class.  A male student's hair must not extend below the bottom of the shirt collar.

Apparel or accessories that denote gang-related association (i.e. rags, bandanas, chains, spikes, or studded items, or other alterations as identified by local law enforcement.)

Beards and mustaches

Sideburns which extend beyond the bottom of the ear and are not the same width from top to bottom.

Student attire is subject to the discretion of the teacher and building principal.  The principal and/or assistant principal have the final decisions about dress and grooming violations.

If a student comes to school with any appearance that violates the dress code, s/he may be placed in in-school suspension until s/he is in compliance.  Administrators will make efforts to notify parents as soon as possible.  In situations involving inappropriate attire, students may be asked to wear clean, school-owned clothing until proper attire is secured.

Extracurricular organizations may impose a more stringent dress code.

Board Approved April 8, 2002.