Purpose General Guidelines The District s dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for authority. 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: Are lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene as determined by campus and district administrators. Advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other substance prohibited under FNCF(LE- GAL). Dress Code The following specific dress code requirements shall apply to all District students whether or not they are required to wear uniforms. 1. Shorts and skorts shall be worn no shorter than three inches above the top of the knee. 2. All students must wear appropriate footwear. a. Footwear with the toes reinforced by steel, hard plastics, or similar materials shall be prohibited. b. Students may be required to bring an alternative pair of shoes for physical education classes or any activity where sturdier footwear is required. c. Any footwear that in the principal s judgment may reasonably be expected to cause disruption of or interference with normal school operations shall not be permitted. 3. Students hair shall be neatly trimmed. Hair color must be a shade of a naturally occurring hair color. Students who dye their hair an unnaturally occurring hair color shall be subject to disciplinary action. Unconventional color, hairstyles, or designs that cause distraction shall not be permitted. Facial hair must be neatly groomed and trimmed. 4. Students shall not be permitted to wear sunglasses, hats or caps, or other headwear on campus except when these items are used for protection in class and when appropriate during DATE ISSUED: 5/13/2015 1 of 6 -X
extracurricular activities. Prohibited items shall be confiscated. Parents may pick up confiscated items at the school during office hours. 5. Students shall be prohibited from wearing oversized clothing to school. Specifically prohibited shall be baggy or sagging pants. All pants shall be worn at the waist. 6. Leggings of any kind, spandex, or yoga pants shall be prohibited. Students shall not be permitted to cut the bottom of the pants leg in a manner that allows the material to be frayedout. 7. Extra-long belts shall be prohibited. If a belt is worn, it must be through the belt loops on garments. 8. Clothing that exposes a student s midriff or belly button (navel) shall not be permitted. 9. Students shall not be permitted to wear dangling key rings or chains, including chains attached to wallets, footwear, or backpacks. 10. Except for ear piercings, body-piercing jewelry shall be prohibited. 11. All tattoos must be covered up or taped over while a student is on school property or acting as a representative at a school-sponsored activity whether on or off school property. 12. Gang-related attire shall be prohibited. A list of gang-related attire shall be maintained at each campus. 13. Students shall not be permitted to wear underwear as outerwear, including underwear t-shirts. 14. Jackets are permitted if the guidelines that have been established for wearing jackets are followed. (See guidelines listed in this policy.) 15. Shoes that are skates shall not be permitted. 16. Students shall not wear articles of clothing that create a health or other hazard to the student s safety or to the safety of others. 17. Grills on teeth are not permitted. Requirements for Exempted Students The following specific dress code requirements shall apply to all students including those who have received exemptions: DATE ISSUED: 5/13/2015 2 of 6 -X
1. All clothing that is suggestive or indecent that causes distraction shall be prohibited. Such clothing includes tank tops, muscle shirts, halter-tops, sleeveless shirts, spaghetti straps, clothing that exposes backs or midriffs, and see-through garments without a shell or shirt underneath. 2. Inappropriate or indecent patches, writings, or drawings on clothing or the body shall be prohibited. Clothing with inappropriate advertising or statements that are lewd, offensive, vulgar, obscene, or inflammatory, such as advertising or statements regarding alcoholic beverages, sex, tobacco, drugs, gangs, and the like, shall be prohibited. Jurisdiction Grooming Violations Dress Jackets Uniforms Definition These rules shall apply to all District campuses and facilities and to any locations off-campus at which District students receive or participate in classroom, co-curricular or extracurricular instruction, such as official class field trips, internships, and other programs or activities hosted at facilities other than District facilities. 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 disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct. A student shall be sent home to change clothes if he or she is wearing inappropriate attire. Absences for this purpose shall be counted as unexcused. Jackets must not be provocative, distracting, or cause one to question their purpose or intended use. The principal or pr incipal s designee may designate time periods when jackets may be worn. The principal or principal s designee may disallow a student from wearing a jacket in the classroom and around the campus if the jacket is used to conceal violations of the dress code. The Board has determined that requiring school uniforms improves the learning environment in the District. The Board requires that students from prekindergarten to grade 12 wear the uniforms outlined in this policy. Students who are new to the District and have never previously attended secondary schools in the District shall be exempt from the uniform requirement on their first day of enrollment. Returning students must be in compliance with the uniform policy. For purposes of this policy, uniforms shall be defined as one or more specific kinds of articles of clothing required to be worn by students at a particular school during normal school hours. Alterations that change the integrity of the uniform shall not be permitted. DATE ISSUED: 5/13/2015 3 of 6 -X
Uniform Requirements Shirts Pants, Shorts, Skirts / Skorts The guidelines for uniform shirts shall be as follows: 1. Long- or short-sleeved polo-style shirts with collars and a two or three button placket. (Buttons may not be removed.) 2. The shirts must be solid navy blue, royal blue, or solid white. 3. Excessively tight shirts shall not be permitted. 4. Natalia spirit shirts shall be permitted. The spirit shirt must comply with the dress code. The guidelines for uniform pants, walking shorts, and skirts/skorts shall be as follows: 1. Garments with or without pleats shall be permitted. 2. No wide bell bottoms that cover the entire shoe shall be permitted. 3. The garment cannot have lacing up the front, sides, or back instead of a zipper. 4. Walking shorts and skorts shall be worn no shorter than three inches above the top of the kneecap. 5. Denim jeans shall be permitted on a daily basis. Logos on jeans are permitted and must comply with the standard dress code. 6. Uniform pants and jeans must be blue, black or khaki. 7. Skirts cannot have slits. Outerwear, such as sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, pullovers, windbreakers, or coats must comply with the standard dress code. Funding Source Exemptions The Superintendent shall maintain federal and local funds for clothing needs of economically disadvantaged students who cannot afford to purchase uniforms. Any funds donated for this purpose shall be used only for that purpose. The District shall provide one uniform per year to each economically disadvantaged student who applies for assistance. Vouchers shall not apply to denim or spirit shirts. A parent or guardian may request that his or her child be exempt from the uniform requirement. In order to exercise this option, the parent or guardian must submit a written statement, which is required. A written response to a questionnaire, designed to assist in determining bona fide religious and/or philosophical objections to the uniform requirement is optional. The statement and responses DATE ISSUED: 5/13/2015 4 of 6 -X
to the optional questionnaire must be delivered to the campus principal within seven calendar days from the date of enrollment. The written statement must set out a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the uniform requirement. Each campus for which uniforms are required shall provide forms for this purpose. [See (EXHIBIT)] The campus principal shall consider the items submitted and make a recommendation as to whether the request for exemption from the uniform requirement shall be granted. The Board shall consider the request at the first Board meeting following the principal s recommendation at which the item can lawfully be placed on the agenda. The student shall not be required to wear the uniform unless and until the Board determines the request for an exemption does not meet the requirement of a bona fide religious or philosophical objection. Pending the Board s decision, the student shall be required to comply with the dress code for the District and the campus to which the student is assigned. Students who receive a uniform exemption and violate the specific dress code requirements for all students shall be given one warning for a dress code violation. If a second violation occurs, the student shall be given a uniform to wear for the day or shall be disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct. Any absence shall be recorded and considered unexcused. If the student violates the dress code policy a third time during the remainder of the school year, the student shall be required to wear a school uniform for the remainder of the school year. Non-Discrimination Exceptions for Special Events Violations District or campus personnel shall not discriminate against any student whose parent or guardian has submitted a request for exemption from the uniform requirement. The principal at any school that requires uniforms shall be authorized to allow all or part of the student body to vary from the standard mode of dress in favor of a particular mode of attire on special occasions, such as UIL activities, fieldtrips, or spirit days. Such exceptions may include school-sponsored or school-related activities and the attire must be designated as spirit shirts, dress shirts and ties for male athletes, organization shirts, or attire for physical education classes. These items are allowed only if they are distributed through an approved District student organization and if the organization gets prior approval from the campus administration before ordering and wearing them. All other exceptions shall require the Superintendent s approval prior to the event. If the principal determines that a student s dress or grooming violates the dress code and/or applicable requirements for uniforms, DATE ISSUED: 5/13/2015 5 of 6 -X
the student shall be disciplined in accordance with the student handbook. 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 those standards 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] DATE ISSUED: 5/13/2015 ADOPTED: 6 of 6 -X