3224 - Student Dress

Preserving a beneficial learning environment and assuring the safety and well being of all students are primary concerns of the board of directors. 

Students' choices in matters of dress should be made in consultation with their parents. 

Student dress shall only be regulated when, in the judgment of school administrators, there is a rea-sonable expectation that: 

1. A health or safety hazard may be presented by the student's dress or appearance including possible membership in a gang or hate groups; 
2. Damage to school property may result from the student's dress; or 
3. A material and substantial disruption of the educational process will result from the students' dress or appearance. 

For the purpose of this policy, a material and substantial disruption of the educational process may be found to exist when a student's conduct is inconsistent with any part of the educational mission of the school district. Prohibited conduct includes the use of lewd, sexual, drug, tobacco or alcohol-related messages, gang-related apparel. 

The uniforms of nationally recognized youth organizations, and clothing worn in observance of a student’s religion, are not subject to this policy. 

The superintendent shall establish procedures providing guidance to students, parents, and staff re-garding appropriate student dress in school or while engaging in extracurricular activities. Such procedures shall ensure that any student wearing, carrying, or displaying gang-related apparel which symbolize gang membership shall be asked, with notice to his or her parents, to make appropriate corrections and be subject to discipline if the corrections are not undertaken. 

The student and parent may determine the student's personal dress and grooming standards, provided that the student's dress and grooming shall not: 

1. Lead school officials to reasonably believe that such dress or grooming shall disrupt, interfere with, disturb, or detract from the school environment or activity and/or education-al objectives. 
2. Create a health or other hazard to the student's safety or to the safety of others. 
3. Create an atmosphere in which a student, staff, or other person's well-being is hindered by undue pressure, behavior, intimidation, overt gesture or threat of violence; or 
4. Imply gang membership or affiliation by written communication, marks, drawing, painting, design, emblem upon any school or personal property or one's person. 

The principal, in connection 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 if the principal reasonably believes that the student's dress or grooming: 

1. Creates a hazard to the student's safety or to the safety of others. 
2. Shall prevent, interfere with or adversely affect the purpose, direction, or effort required for the activity to achieve its goals. 

If the student's dress or grooming is objectionable under these provisions, the principal shall request the student to make appropriate corrections. If the student refuses, the principal shall notify the parent, if reasonably possible, and request that person to make the necessary correction. If both the student and parent refuse, the principal shall take appropriate disciplinary action. Stu-dents may be suspended, if circumstances so warrant. Students who violate provisions of the dress code relating to extracurricular activities may be removed or excluded from the extracur-ricular activity for such period as the principal may determine. All students shall be accorded due process safeguards before any corrective action may be taken. 

Students identified as being gang involved, influenced or affiliated shall be provided assistance and/or programs which discourage gang involvement or affiliation, enhance self-esteem, encour-age interest and participation in school or other positive activities and promote membership in authorized school organizations.