Agenda Item Number ITEM TYPE: Report BOARD AGENDA ITEM TITLE: Revisions to Regulations to Board Policy : DATE: March 14, 2018 OVERVIEW: These administrative regulations have been updated with input from several stakeholder groups, including school administrators, the Teacher Advisory Council, and the Carroll County Student Government Association in an effort to address changing fashions and antiquated language. Changes/modifications were made to: Shirts and tops Length of pants/skirts/dresses/shorts Guidance on how violations should be addressed Additionally, in accordance with the Superintendent and Board s direction at the February 14, 2018 Board of Education meeting, these regulations have been revised to include language prohibiting symbols of hatred and intolerance, including, but not limited to the Confederate Battle Flag and swastikas, on student clothing. RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION: For Board Information. Submitted by: Steven M. Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Approve/Concur: Stephen H. Guthrie, Superintendent of Schools
Page # 1 Regulation 1. Purpose The Board of Education has a strong commitment to the learning process RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF ALLOWING INDIVIDUAL STUDENT EXPRESSION AS WELL AS THE NECESSITY OF PROTECTING STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY AND MAINTAINING AN ATOMSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO EDUCATION. STUDENT DRESS CODE PROCEDURES MUST BE DESIGNED WITH THE GOAL OF BALANCING THESE COMPETING INTERESTS. Therefore, the Board of Education has a legitimate interest in regulating student attire and appearance during the school day in an effort to avoid disruption, to promote self-discipline, to promote student health and safety, and to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning. In accordance with Title IX regulations, this student dress code, as well as any dress code requirements for school-sponsored activities (i.e., graduation attire, concert performance attire, dances, etc.) Shall be gender neutral. ALL DRESS CODE PROCEDURES WILL ADHERE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODES AND COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAW. STUDENT ATTIRE THAT CAN BE REASONABLY FORECASTED TO EITHER MATERIALLY DISRUPT THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT OR INFRINGE UPON THE RIGHTS OF OTHER STUDENTS TO ACCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED. NO PROCEDURE WILL IMPOSE DRESS AND GROOMING RULES BASED ON GENDER IN VIOLATION OF TITLE IX. PROCEDURES WILL SPECIFICALLY DEFINE AMBIGUOUS TERMS, AND EXAMPLES WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN PRACTICAL. 2. Definitions Cleavage Area: An area between the breasts exposed by a low-cut neckline Skorts: Shorts with a skirt-like overlay Midriff Area: An area between the chest and the abdomen UNDERGARMENTS: CLOTHING DESIGNED TO BE WORN UNDER OTHER PIECES OF CLOTHING. THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, UNDERSHIRTS, TANK-TOP UNDERSHIRTS, UNDERPANTS, BOXERS, COMPRESSION SHORTS OR SHIRTS, AND BRAS, INCLUDING BRALETTES AND SPORT BRAS HEAD COVERINGS: INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, HATS, SUNGLASSES, VISORS, HOODS, BEANIES, SCARVES, AND BANDANAS
Page # 2 3. Procedure Students of Carroll County Public Schools are required to groom themselves in a manner that is modest, clean, appropriate, decent, and not disruptive to the educational process AND IS REFLECTIVE OF A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Students are expected to abide by this dress code from their arrival to the school building to the defined ending of the school day AS WELL AS AT ANY SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITY PRIOR TO OR BEYOND THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY. The requirements include, but are not limited to: Head Coverings: Hats, sunglasses, or head coverings of any kind, including bandanas and visors, Shall not be worn in BE REMOVED UPON ENTERING the school building, unless approved for religious or medical reasons. Certain headbands, scrunchies, etc. AND FOLDED BANDANAS, which are used to hold hair in place and do not cover the entire head, are permitted. ONE S FACE MUST BE VISIBLE AT ALL TIMES. Shirts: Shirts shall: Cover the entire back (i.e., no cutout backs, no shirts that tie in back); Cover the midriff area (bottom of the shirt must meet the top of the lower attire at all times); Cover undergarments (tank-top undershirts and skin-tight compression shirts are considered undergarments, and must have a shirt over them); Not be see-through; Fit modestly so that cleavage area is covered; AND Have two straps, one on each shoulder (no tube tops or halter tops). SHALL REASONABLY COVER THE BACK, THE CLEAVAGE AREA, AND THE ENTIRE MIDRIFF AREA. SEE-THROUGH OR MESH SHIRTS ARE NOT PERMITTED, UNLESS WORN IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN APPROPRIATE TOP. Dresses/Shorts/Skirts/Skorts/Pants: Dresses, skirts, skorts, and shorts should not be excessively short. The guideline for excessively short is clothing that does not reach the student s fingertips when the student is standing with arms extended at the side. Pants will cover undergarments at all times and not be excessively long as to drag on the floor. SHALL COVER THE ENTIRE BUTTOCKS AND PRIVATE AREAS WHILE THE STUDENT IS SITTING, STANDING, AND BENDING OVER. PANTS SHALL COVER UNDERGARMENTS AT ALL TIMES; THAT IS, THE
Page # 3 Other: WAISTLINE OF THE PANTS SHALL BE ON THE UPPER HIPS. No shoes with wheels shall be worn. APPROPRIATE SHOES SHALL BE WORN. No bedroom slippers or pajamas shall be worn. No chains which could inflict significant bodily harm if used as weapon, spiked clothing or accessories shall be worn. No mutilated, cutout or ragged clothing shall be worn that exposes the bare skin between the upper chest and mid-thigh or creates a significant distraction. CLOTHING THAT MAY ENDANGER HEALTH OR SAFETY, THAT MAY BE USED AS A WEAPON, OR THAT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY SHALL NOT BE WORN. Underwear shall not be showing and UNDERGARMENTS shall not be worn as outerwear OR BE VISIBLE THROUGH OUTERGARMENTS. CLOTHING SHALL NOT BE WORN THAT WOULD LEAD SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO REASONABLY BELIEVE THAT SUCH ATTIRE WILL MATERIALLY DISRUPT, INTERFERE WITH, DISTURB, OR DISTRACT FROM SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL, OR THE RIGHTS OF OTHER STUDENTS TO ACCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. Clothing shall not convey advertisements for or promote the use of condoms or other birth control devices, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or THE UNLAWFUL USE OF weapons, stated or implied. Clothing shall not convey PROFANITY OR symbols/messages generally accepted to promote DEPICTING, IMPLYING, OR WHICH ARE REASONABLY PERCEIVED AS PROMOTING intolerance, hate HATRED, racial slurs, or sexual harassment AND/OR A HOSTILE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT OR HARRASSMENT/ BULLYING ON THE BASIS OF AGE, COLOR, GENETIC INFORMATION, MARITAL STATUS, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, ANCESTRY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION. THIS PROHIBITION INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG AND SWASTIKAS. CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES SHALL NOT DEPICT SYMBOLS/MESSAGES OF GROUPS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS PROMOTING INTOLERANCE, HATRED, AND HARASSMENT/BULLYING, SUCH AS THE KU KLUX KLAN OR ARYAN NATION. Clothing shall not convey establishments or products whose names can be directly interpreted or construed as carrying a double meaning involving sexual innuendo, gang symbols, or sexual activity. BODY ART, WHETHER PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE VIOLATE THIS POLICY IF DEPICTED ON ATTIRE, MUST BE COMPLETELY COVERED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY OR AT ANY SCHOOL-SPONSORED OR SCHOOL- SANCTIONED EVENT.
Page # 4 Violations All student dress code violations SHALL be addressed in a respectful manner. WHEN POSSIBLE, A STUDENT S DRESS CODE CONCERNS SHALL BE ADDRESSED BY A STAFF MEMBER OF THE STUDENT S GENDER IDENTITY. A student found wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change or remove the item, and will be given an opportunity to do so. Should the student not be able to change or remove the item, clothing may be provided by the individual school. Student failure to cooperate will be referred to an administrator. Any student not complying with the direction of the administrator may be considered insubordinate and subject to appropriate disciplinary action. The Superintendent/designee may enforce additional restrictions in order to maintain a safe and orderly environment. 4. Exceptions Request for Exceptions to the dress code for the purpose of school activities (I.E., SPIRIT WEEKS, ATHLETIC GAME DAYS, DANCES) are up to the discretion of the school administration.