5132 - Student Dress and Grooming - Procedure

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, Superintendent policy and administrative regulations. These school dress codes shall be regularly reviewed.
(cf. 0420 - School Plans/Site Councils)

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)

In addition, the following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities:

1. Shoes must be worn at all times. Sandals must have heel straps. Thongs or backless shoes or sandals are not acceptable.

2. Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles etc.) shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane or sexually suggestive, which bear drug, alcohol or tobacco company advertising, promotions and likenesses, or which advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice.

3. Hats, caps and other head coverings shall not be worn indoors. Enforcement must accommodate clothing worn by students as an expression of sincerely held religious beliefs (for example, head scarfs) and worn by students with disabilities (for example, protective helmets).

4. Student attire and grooming must permit the student to participate in learning without posing a risk to the health or safety of any student or school district personnel.

(a) Students must wear clothing including both a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent (for example dresses, leggings, or shorts) and shoes.
(b) Shirts and dresses must have fabric in the front and on the sides (under the arms).
(c) Clothing must cover undergarments (waistbands and straps excluded).
(d) Fabric covering breasts, genitals and buttocks must not be transparent.
(e) Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible to staff, and not interfere with the line of sight of any student or staff. Hoodies must allow the face and ears to be visible to school staff.
(f) Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, wood shop, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
(g) Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.

5. Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed.

Coaches and teachers may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports and/or classes.
(cf. 3260 - Fees and Charges)

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)
(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)

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.

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.

Uniforms

In schools where a schoolwide uniform is required, the principal, staff and parents/guardians of the individual school shall jointly select the specific uniform to be worn. (Education Code 35183)

At least six months before a school uniform policy is implemented, the principal or designee shall notify parents/guardians of this policy. (Education Code 35183)

Parents/guardians shall also be informed of their right to have their child exempted.

The principal or designee shall also repeat this notification at the end of the school year so that parents/guardians are reminded before school clothes are likely to be purchased.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish criteria for determining student eligibility for financial assistance when purchasing uniforms.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish a method for recycling or exchanging uniforms as students grow out of them.

Students who participate in a nationally recognized youth organization shall be allowed to wear organization uniforms on days when the organization has a scheduled meeting. (Education Code 35183)

Enforcement

When a teacher, school staff member or school administrator discusses a dress or grooming violation with a student, it is recommended that another adult should be present and at least one of the two adults should be the same sex as the student. In no circumstance, unless there is an immediate concern, shall a student be spoken to about a dress code violation in front of other students.

1. Teachers or staff discussing a dress or grooming violation with a student should present options for obtaining appropriate clothing (e.g. school clothing closet).

2. Where possible, students should not be required to wear school owned replacement garments and should never be required to wear specific garments as a disciplinary measure.

3. Discipline for dress or grooming violations should be consistent with the discipline policies for comparable violations.

Approved: May 24, 1994
Revised: November 13, 2001
Revised: February 07, 2017