Dress Code
The District believes that proper etiquette, social customs,
and good grooming are a definite part of the educational process. To this end,
it is expected that students wear neat, clean, appropriate clothing to school
or school functions (as listed below) that meet the standards of the
educational environment. Any extremes in clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, or
appearance that may disrupt the normal operation of the school will not be
acceptable. It is recommended that students wear closed-toe and closed-heel
shoes to school. It is not the intention of these guidelines to usurp the
authority of parents in determining what appropriate dress and grooming are for
their children in accordance with the age and grade of those youngsters. The
school will work with parents in encouraging their children to assume this
responsibility and to execute it sensibly as they mature. The purpose of the
home and school working together should be to help students accept and
cooperate with these guidelines. In view of this statement, the following rules
will be in effect in all schools:
· General:
· Students must not wear clothing or accessories that are harmful,
disruptive, or hazardous to health or safety.
· Jewelry and accessories shall be worn in a way
that does not present a safety or health hazard or cause a disruption to the
educational process.
· Undergarments should not be visible at any time.
· Shirts:
· Shirts must have sleeves and cover the body from shoulder to
shoulder. A sleeve is defined as the part of a garment that wholly or partly
covers a person’s arm.
· Shirts must be long enough to overlap the belt line or stay tucked
in during the course of normal movement throughout the day. Shirts falling
below mid-thigh length must be tucked in. Shirts cannot be longer than shorts
or skirts.
· No bare-midriff shirts, blouses, muscle shirts, or tank tops may be
worn.
· Students are not to wear T-shirts or other
garments or other items with pictures, logos, phrases, decals, patches,
emblems, or words printed on them that are obscene, suggestive, or disruptive in
the judgment of the school administration. This includes, but is not limited to,
nude/semi-nude figures; figures in sexually suggestive postures; or logos of
alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or prohibited substances including
racial, ethnic, or sexist slurs, or gang identification.
· A tattoo that is obscene or disruptive in the judgment of the
school administration must be covered.
· Pants, Shorts, Skirts:
· All garments must be secured at the waist so that no undergarments
will be exposed.
· Shorts and skirts are permitted at all grade levels and must be
mid-thigh or longer.
· Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.
· Headgear:
· Students (male and female) are not to wear hats of any kind unless
approved by the school administration for special occasions and specific
locations.
· Hats should be interpreted literally as hats or head-coverings and includes
bandanas, berets, beanies, knitted caps, hoods (such as attached to
sweatshirts), caps, sweatbands, visors, and similar hat-like apparel.
· Shoes:
· Students shall wear shoes for foot protection and for hygienic
reasons while on school grounds and/or school transportation.
· Bedroom slippers are not permitted.
· For safety reasons, shoes with wheels and/or skates may not be worn
on the school campus or bus.
· Elementary school students are required to
wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes to school unless permission is otherwise
granted by the administration.
Regulations regarding grooming and dress
for special activities such as athletics, fine arts, and drill team will be
governed by the immediate person in charge of these activities under the
direction of the principal or their designee.
Appropriateness and moderation in all areas,
a concern for the health and safety of students, and the avoidance of
distractions to the educational process are the guiding principles of the
student dress code. Styles and fads are constantly changing and cannot possibly
be covered by specific rules and regulations. Evaluating what is appropriate in
terms of dress and grooming is highly controversial, and opinions among people
vary. Individual schools will assume responsibility for determining whether specific
items of clothing and general appearance are acceptable for reasons of safety, health,
order, well-being, and the general welfare of students.
The District authorizes school
administrators to employ appropriate disciplinary procedures to carry out and
enforce this policy. These are the minimum standards that will be enforced at
each school. Schools have the right to set higher standards based on
administrative procedures. School uniforms may be adopted at individual
schools.
Any student who violates the dress code policy is
subject to the following disciplinary actions:
First Offense: A student shall receive a verbal warning, and
the school principal or their designee shall call the student’s parent.
Second Offense: The student is ineligible to participate in any
extracurricular activities for a period of time not to exceed five (5) days and
the school principal or their designee shall meet with the student’s parent.
Third Offense and Subsequent Offenses: A student shall receive an in-school suspension pursuant to Fla.
Stat. §1003.01 for a period not to exceed three (3) days; the student is ineligible
to participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to exceed thirty
(30) days; and the school principal or their designee shall call the student’s
parent and send the parent a written letter regarding the student’s in-school suspension
and ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.
Shorts and Skirts
are permitted at all grade levels and will be mid-thigh or longer.
The mid-thigh
point is defined as the halfway point between the beginning of the inseam (groin
area) to the top of the knee.
To determine it, measure from the beginning of the inseam (groin area) to the
top of the knee, and identify the point that is directly in the middle.