Student Dress Code - Board Policy JICA

A safe and disciplined learning environment is essential to a quality educational program. District-wide standards on student attire are intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and improve school order and safety. The Board recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however, students shall not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school.

Any student deemed in violation of the student dress code shall be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school immediately. In this case, there shall be no further penalty.

If the student cannot promptly obtain appropriate clothing, on the first offense, the student shall be given a written warning and an administrator shall notify the student's parents/guardians. On the second offense, the student shall remain in the administrative office for the day and do schoolwork and a conference with parents/guardians shall be held. Classes missed as a result of the second offense are considered excused. On the third offense, the student may be subject to suspension or other disciplinary action in accordance with Board policy concerning student suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary interventions.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Items-Policy: JICA-R Student Dress Code

Required Dress Code Standards

To meet the basic standards of the dress code, students must wear:

1. A shirt covering the full front, back, and sides, with straps over the shoulders
2. Pants, shorts, skirts, or other lower body attire that is secured at or above the hips and provides full coverage longer than mid-thigh length
3. Sturdy-soled footwear
4. All middle and high school students are required to have in their possession an unaltered school issued photo identification card (ID) during school hours, or at such times, locations, and activities specifically identified by the building principal

Exceptions

Appropriate athletic clothing may be worn in physical education classes. Clothing normally worn when participating in school-sponsored extracurricular or sports activities may be worn to school when approved by the appropriate building administrator or designee.

The District will accommodate students who wear items required by their sincerely held religious beliefs, cultural practices, or disability-related needs. Such items are permitted unless they pose a legitimate safety concern or cause or are likely to cause substantial disruption to the educational environment. Students or parents seeking accommodation should contact the building principal.

Students May Not Wear

The following items are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities:

1. Clothing that exposes the torso, chest, back, buttocks, or sags below the hips, including but not limited to: backless clothing, tube tops, or garments made of sheer, fishnet, mesh, or similar see-through material
2. Sunglasses or dark glasses worn inside the building during school hours unless required as part of a class or activity
3. Hats, hairnets, hoods, and other head coverings worn inside the building during school hours unless required as part of a class or activity
4. Any inappropriate or disruptive clothing item or accessory that causes or may cause a substantial disruption to or material interference with school safety, personal safety or the learning environment may result in discretionary intervention by school administrators
5. Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, tattoos, apparel, head coverings, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that:
   1. Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons
   2. Are of a sexual nature
   3. Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous
   4. Threaten the safety or welfare of any person
   5. Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
   6. Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process
   7. Tattoos displaying any of these must be covered at all times.
6. Trench coats are not permitted anywhere on school property
7. Apparel must be worn in a way such that private parts and undergarments are not exposed. Clothing that shows these areas through transparent or see-through material is not permitted
8. Any jewelry that could be used as a weapon (as determined by safety and security)

Gang-Related Apparel

The Board of Education desires to keep district schools and students free from the threats or harmful influence of any groups or gangs which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior.

Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, tattoos, apparel, head coverings, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, pictures, or any other attribute that denotes membership or affiliation with any gang or related behavior is prohibited on school grounds, in school vehicles, and at school activities or sanctioned events.

The following specific items have been identified as gang-related and are prohibited at all district schools and sites:

1. Solid red or solid blue shirts or undershirts unless otherwise part of an enhanced dress code
2. Solid red or blue pants, shorts, or undershorts unless otherwise part of an enhanced dress code
3. Bandanas
4. Solid red or blue belts, rosaries, or shoelaces
5. Team jerseys or belt buckles that display the numbers 13, 14, 18, 31, 41 or 81
6. Shaved or notched eyebrows (when used to signify gang involvement)

Building principals may identify additional gang-related apparel prohibited at their school after consultation with the superintendent or designee and local law enforcement. Schools will notify students and families of any building-specific gang-related apparel restrictions. Students on gang contracts may be subject to additional restrictions as determined by building administration. For additional information, see District Policy JICF, Secret Societies/Gang Activity. This section on gang-related apparel shall be reviewed on an annual basis and updated or revised as appropriate.

Enforcement

When a student is not in compliance with the dress code, school staff will notify the student of the requirement to change clothing. The school will work with the student to obtain appropriate clothing immediately, which may include:

1. Allowing the student to change into their own alternative clothing if available at school
2. Providing temporary school-appropriate clothing
3. Contacting parents/guardians to bring alternative clothing to school

Continued or repeated failure to comply with dress code standards may result in parental notification, a conference with school administration, or disciplinary consequences in accordance with the district's student discipline policies for insubordination.

The district reserves the right to deny any individual entrance to any school or district site if it determines, in its discretion, that the individual is not in compliance with this policy.