Students shall be dressed in clothing appropriate for instruction.  Clothing which disrupts the learning environment is expressly prohibited.

 Student choice of clothing disrupts the learning environment where it may be representative or suggestive of gang affiliation or activities.  The Board of Education recognizes that gangs are present in the District community and pose a real threat of disruption to the schools.  (A “gang”—as that term is used in this policy—is any group of two or more persons whose purposes include the commission conspiracy or the advocacy of illegal acts.)  The Board recognizes that what clothing is identifiable as gang-related changes frequently and is, therefore, often difficult to discern.

 Student choice of clothing also disrupts the learning environment where it unduly fosters competition among students for expensive or elaborate clothing or for unnecessarily frequent purchases of new clothing.  The Board of Education recognizes the susceptibility of school-aged children to peer pressure and believes that the schools have an important role in teaching children to make sensible clothing decisions, regardless of fashion, and to respect each other without regard to personal attire.

 Therefore, except as provided below, students shall wear uniforms while in attendance at school or school-related functions.  Further, students must at all times while they are at school or at school-related functions, even where uniforms are not required, wear appropriate clothing.

 Dress Code.  Students shall not, while at school or at school-related functions, wear or exhibit any of the following:

 1.     Hats, sweatbands, head scarves, outdoor coats or jackets, or other outer clothing, any of which tend to obscure other students’ vision in the classroom or to otherwise distract from learning.

2.     Any clothing with language or pictures conveying expressed or implied obscenities, sex or vulgarities, promoting the use of tobacco, alcohol, firearms or illegal drugs, inciting violence or other illegal acts, or conveying other messages inconsistent with community values or to otherwise distract from learning.

3.     Jewelry, including bracelets, pins, rings and the like—excepting watches, and plain, small gold or silver earrings or posts (which may be worn only by female students); and only one pair, one in each ear.  Chains, medallions, crosses, necklaces, etc., may not be worn during the school day or during after school activities and/or events.

4.     Immodest clothing defined as exposing skin to the degree that it causes a distraction and/or disruption to the learning environment.

5.     Any item of clothing, colors, jewelry or accessories containing a symbol of a gang or which, by its manner of display, constitutes a symbol of a gang.

6.     Haircuts which display patterns (other than straight lines), signs, symbols, or names.

Uniforms.  The uniform which students must wear, at all times when in school or on school property, except as hereinafter exempted, is defined as follows:

¨    Bottoms.  Uniform navy blue pants, skirts, jumpers, and shorts shall be essentially knee-length or longer.

à      Standards.  Pants, skirts, split-skirts, jumpers, and shorts shall be plain or pleated cotton twill or cotton and polyester twill—or equivalent.  Bottoms must be worn at the waist (not sagging) with a fastened belt.

à      Conditions. Navy corduroys will be permitted during cold weather.  Jeans, jeans-style or denim fabric pants, sweat pants (regardless of fabric), leggings, stirrup pants, athletic-style shorts are not permitted.  Any other bottoms not in compliance with the foregoing standards will not be acceptable at any time. 

¨    Tops.  Zenon Sykuta:  navy blue; Meadowview:  light blue; Southwood:  white with logo.

à      Standards.  Shirts or blouses shall be plain (without emblems (except Southwood), designs or accent colors), oxford- broadcloth- or polo-style cotton and polyester—or equivalent.  Shirts or blouses must have collars.  Short- or long-sleeved shirts will be permitted.  Sweaters shall be white or navy blue, plain cardigan-style, crewneck-style, or V-neck-style, and may be either vest or long-sleeved.  Turtlenecks in school colors are permitted in cold weather.

à      Conditions.  Shirts with Nehru-style collars, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and sleeveless blouses or blouses with V-necks or ruffles will not be acceptable.  Tops shall be worn tucked in bottoms at all times.  T-shirts, when worn as undergarments, must be plain, solid white.

¨    Shoes.

à      K-8 Standards.  Footwear shall be plain oxford or athletic (gym) shoes.  Oxfords shall be black, navy blue, or dark brown.  Gym shoes shall be constructed to provide the flexibility and non-skid sole surface essential for full and safe participation in physical education activities—that are black, navy blue, white, or a combination of black and white or navy blue and white.  Sandals or other open-toe footwear, and any footwear with designs, or colors other than black, navy blue, dark brown or white are not acceptable, no exceptions.  Oxfords with heels are not to be worn in Physical Education classes.

¨    Belts and Socks.  Plain black, navy blue, or brown belts (no designs).  Plain black, navy blue, or white socks or stockings with feet.

¨    Hair Accessories.  Any color hair beads are acceptable.  Ponytail holders, and the like, shall be black, navy blue, or white, unless such is judged to be disruptive, excessive, or gang-related.

 Enforcement.  In all cases, the judgment of the school principal in matters related to uniform compliance—or lack thereof—shall be absolute.  Principals are instructed to apply the definitions, standards and conditions heretofore enumerated in a fair, consistent, and, above all, unequivocal manner.  Should definitions, standards and conditions ever prove indeterminate, principals are directed to adhere to a strict interpretation of the underlying intent of this policy.

Exceptions.  Uniforms need not be worn at extracurricular athletic, academic, dramatic, or musical events or ceremonies unless required by the staff member supervising the event.  Other appropriate clothing requirements may be made for such events by faculty sponsors with the approval of the Superintendent of Schools.

In grades 7-8, uniforms need not be worn for physical education classes, but suitable gym attire will be required.

Whenever a student’s religious beliefs or health needs are reasonably believed to require any deviation from the uniform requirements, the student’s parents shall consult with the student’s building principal.  The principal shall determine whether a genuine conflict exists between the uniform requirements and the student’s religious beliefs or health needs and what accommodation, if any, should be made for the student in a manner least disruptive to the school.  Any exception to the uniform requirements recommended by a principal based upon a student’s religious beliefs or health needs shall be submitted to the Superintendent, who may grant such an exception.

Each building principal, with the approval of the Superintendent of Schools, may designate up to one day per month as a day on which uniforms need not be worn by any student.

Free Expression.  Students who wish to convey at school a message to others, but who feel restricted from doing so by the uniform requirements, may discuss the matter with their building principal.  Where the message is not disruptive to the school environment, the principal shall suggest and make available to the students appropriate alternative means of expressing themselves.

Sanctions.  Students violating this Policy shall be subject to appropriate discipline.  Students arriving at school dressed in violation of this policy will be disciplined according to procedures as outlined on page 12.  Other clothing or clothing accessories worn in violation of this policy may be ordered removed and may be confiscated from a student.  Flagrant or repeated violations may result in in-school suspension.

 Distribution Policy

 Copies of the Code of Student Conduct will be furnished to the parents/guardians of each student at the beginning of the school year or within fifteen (15) days after the school year begins, or within fifteen (15) school days after a transfer student begins classes in District 160.