Lamar CISD 079901 STUDENT CONDUCT: FNCA DRESS CODE (LOCAL) (Administrative guidelines for carrying out Board Policy FNCA (Local) are printed in red italic type.) PURPOSE The District s dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for authority. GENERAL GUIDELINES Students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat and that will not be a health or safety hazard to themselves or others. The District prohibits any clothing or grooming that in the principal s judgment may reasonably be expected to cause disruption of or interference with normal school operations. The District prohibits pictures, emblems, or writings on clothing that: 1. Are lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene. 2. Advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other substance prohibited under FNCF (LEGAL). The student and parent may determine the student s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the general guidelines set out above and with the student dress code outlined in the student handbook. VIOLATIONS GROOMING If the principal determines that a student s grooming violates the dress code, the student shall be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school. If not corrected, the student shall be assigned to in-school suspension for the remainder of the day or until the problem is corrected. Interrupting a student's instructional day with an ISS assignment may not be the most appropriate disciplinary action. For example, students who have a poor academic record are better served in a regular class setting, rather than an in school suspension. Additional disciplinary consequences as specified in the campus discipline plan, or uniform dress plan may be appropriate, such as: Having students change into other clothing as provided at school Serve lunch detention Serve in after school detention 1
Serve in Saturday school ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION DRESS A student whose clothing violates the dress code shall be assigned to in-school suspension either for the remainder of the day or until a parent or designee brings an acceptable change of clothing to the school. Repeated dress code offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action. Appropriate discipline procedures shall be followed in all cases in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, [See FO series] EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES The principal, in cooperation with the sponsor, coach, or other person in charge of an extracurricular activity, may regulate the dress and grooming of students who participate in the activity. Students who violate dress and grooming standards established for such an activity may be removed or excluded from the activity for a period determined by the principal or sponsor, and may be subject to other disciplinary action, as specified in the Student Code of Conduct. [See FO series] UNIFORM-DRESS DEFINITION Uniform-dress is defined in the policy as follows: 1. Khaki, dark blue, or black slacks, dresses, skirts, skorts, jumpers, or shorts or jeans. 2. Collared shirt/blouse (red, white, blue, or school color) or school tee-shirts. Each school site-based decision-making team will define their dress code and will select uniforms from the choices outlined by the board policy. LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION Voluntary uniform-dress means that students are encouraged to wear the District s uniform-dress. Required uniform-dress means that students are required to wear the District s uniform-dress. IMPLEMENTATION OF VOLUNTARY UNIFORM-DRESS The site-based decision-making committee shall obtain input from representative groups within the school and community. Representative groups may include but not be limited to: Parent Advisory Committees (PAC's) PTO/PTA/Booster Groups 2
Faculty Advisory Committees Any community group that may have an interest in school operations The site-based decision-making committee may make a decision to initiate voluntary uniform-dress for the campus by meeting the following: 1. Identify broad support from representative groups at the campus; 2. Use the District uniform-dress definition; 3. Submit and review with the Superintendent details related to the decision to initiate voluntary uniform-dress; 4. Develop parent notification that includes: a) Description of uniform-dress; b) List of vendors and estimated cost of both uniform items and sets; c) Resources for supporting economically disadvantaged students (no District funds shall be expended); and 5. Submit to the Superintendent a copy of the parent notification for approval prior to dissemination. IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIRED UNIFORM DRESS The site-based decision-making committee shall obtain input from representative groups within the school and community. Representative groups may include but not be limited to: Parent Advisory Committees (PAC's) PTO/PTA/Booster Groups Faculty Advisory Committees Any community group that may have an interest in school operations The principal shall prepare a request to initiate uniform-dress for his or her campus and submit the request to the Superintendent no later than March 1 for consideration of implementation at the beginning of the following school year. If a plan has previously been submitted and approved by the board, campuses must resubmit only if something on the plan changes, i.e., clothing type, color, etc. This request must include: 1. Evidence that required uniform-dress has a positive impact on the learning environment; 2. Evidence of 60 percent of household supporting required uniform-dress, with at least 51 percent responding; Evidence would include a survey to parents to be distributed taking the following into consideration: A descriptive introduction that details the board policy, how the results will be used, and that the survey responses will be used by the SBDM 3
committee to determine if uniform dress will or will not be mandated for students. One survey will be provided for each household. The survey will be sent to the household that serves as the legal address for the student. The district will provide specific guidelines for campus distribution and return of the surveys to the district office. Guidelines may include timeline dates and check-off procedures. The survey should detail, as much as possible, examples of the type of uniform dress parents may expect should uniform dress be implemented. This may be included on the survey ballot, in newsletters to home, memos from the principal, or in other school-home communication. 3. A detailed and specific description of the uniform-dress for the campus using the District s uniform-dress definition; 4. A detailed plan for notification of parents, including: a) Description of uniform-dress; Descriptions should be clear and specific. The campus should not modify the types, styles or colors of the uniforms once the description has been shared with parents. b) List of vendors and estimated cost of both uniform items and sets; c) Resources for supporting economically disadvantaged students; d) Time for new students to comply; e) Consequences for students who do not comply with the uniform-dress as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct; f) Exemption, if any, for special occasions and school-sponsored or related activities. g) Procedures and options for parents who have bona fide religious or philosophical objections; and Religious reasons would include a religion that requires a certain type of dress during daily functions, outside of school as well as at school. Philosophical objections must be based on reasons other than displeasure of wearing a uniform. Procedures may include a written statement from the parent and any supporting documents from the hierarchy of the religious organization. Students found to have a bona fide religious or philosophical reason as determined by the principal may be exempted from the uniform dress policy. Parents may appeal any decision at the campus level by following the district's appeal procedure. (Policy FNG-Local) h) Effective date of implementation; and 5. An evaluation plan for measuring the effect of the uniform-dress requirement. Evaluations will be conducted in January or February. 4
The evaluation after the first year of uniform dress will be conducted with the assistance of Department of Research and Accountability so that evaluations are consistent. This evaluation will include: Solicit input from all students, parent and teachers Evidence that uniforms have positively impacted learning and student behavior Evaluations for the following years may be less formal, and may be conducted at the campus level. Input for the evaluation may be sought from the parent advisory committee, the PTO, faculty meetings, newsletter surveys, written and oral comments from parents, etc. The principal may request a formal evaluation from the Department of Research and Accountability at any time. The results of the evaluation will be shared with the site-based decision making team and the school board. Based upon evaluation results, the team will determine one of the following options: Option 1: The uniform policy will remain in effect for the following year. All requirements stated in "Implementation of Required Uniform Dress" as stated above, excluding #2, must be followed. It is recommended that as few changes in uniform as possible be made from year to year. OR Option 2: The principal will conduct a formal survey of parents with the assistance of the Department of Research and Accountability. All requirements stated in "Implementation of Required Uniform Dress" as stated above must be followed. The SBDM team will make decisions regarding the continuation/termination of uniform dress based on the results of the survey. The Superintendent shall review the campus request and supporting documentation and prepare a recommendation for Board action. DATE ISSUED: 02/01/1999 LDU-05-99 FNCA (LOCAL)-X ADOPTED: 5