Dress Code Policy
Dressing and Grooming Policy
Dressing and Grooming Information Board Policy 5132 states:
In cooperation with teachers, students and parents/guardians, the principal or designee shall establish school rules governing student dress and grooming which are consistent with law, Governing Board policy and administrative regulations. These school dress codes shall be regularly reviewed.
In addition, the following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities:
- Shoes must be worn at all times. Sandals must have heel straps. Open toe sandals with a back strap may be worn. High school students may wear flip flops or backless shoes or sandals, unless otherwise required for instructional programs. Policies/programs may be established for instructional programs requiring closed toe shoes such as PE, ROP/Career & Technical, and Science.
- Clothing, grooming, accessories, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc.) shall be free of writing, pictures, symbols, or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane, obscene, libelous, slanderous, lewd or sexually suggestive. Clothing that degrade any cultural, religious or ethnic values or which advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice or discrimination, or which promote lude behavior, which bear the use of drugs, alcohol or any unlawful acts are prohibited, tobacco company advertising, promotions and likenesses, or which advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice.
- Each school shall allow students to wear sun-protective clothing, including but not limited to hats, for outdoor use during the school day. (Education Code 35183.5)
- Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. Pants should be sized to fit the waist in order not to sag. Sagging pants are those that do not fit the student’s waistline. Pants should not need a belt to hold them up. See-through or fish-net fabrics, halter tops, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops, bare midriffs and skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh are prohibited.
- Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed. Hair may not be sprayed by any coloring that would drip when wet.
- A student will not be prohibited from wearing clothing, jewelry or personal items that express self-identification with, or support for, individuals or groups on the basis of the characteristics set forth in California Education Code Section 200, including but not limited to: disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
- The principal, staff, students, and parent/guardians at each school may establish reasonable dress and grooming regulations for times when students are engaged in extracurricular or other special school activities. Coaches and teachers may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports and/or classes.
- No clothing or articles of clothing (including but not limited to gloves, bandannas, shoestrings, wristbands, belts, jewelry) related to group or gang which may provoke others to acts of violence for example, belt buckles with initials or red, blue, or brown web belts, belts hanging out of pants, red, blue, or other colored shoelaces, bandanas of any type of color, either worn in hair or displayed in clothing, gloves, towels or other items hanging from rear pants pockets or from belt; excessive clothing items of predominately one color, old English style writing on clothing or notebooks.
- Because gang-related symbols are constantly changing, definitions of gang-related apparel may be reviewed and updated whenever related information is received by administrator and/or school safety committee.
- Any clothing, apparel, or attire which could be used as a weapon, or could be damaging to school property, included but not limited to steel-toed boots, chain, items with spikes or studs, etc., are prohibited.
- The approved hats that students are allowed to wear must meet the following criteria: full brim (around the entire hat) with a width of 1.5-4 inches, straw or cloth, white, off white, or tan, plain. School approved baseball caps and beanies are permitted, with a home school logo (without other added design or writing). Baseball caps must be worn in such a manner as to provide protection from the sun facing forward. Approved hats may only be worn while outside the school buildings. Solid color beanies may be worn for protection against cold weather in white, off-white, tan, gray or black.
No grade of a student participating in a physical education class shall be adversely affected if the student does not wear standardized physical education apparel because of circumstances beyond the student's control. (Education Code 49066)
Gang-Related Apparel
At individual schools that have a dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel at school or school activities, the principal, staff and parents/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.
Other
The Superintendent shall direct all staff members to respect the rights of students to press a problem through proper channels and according to established procedures.