SECONDARY STUDENT DRESS CODE

Student dress and personal grooming is primarily the responsibility of the student and parent. Students are expected to come to school clean, neat, and appropriately attired. Students whose personal attire or grooming distracts the attention of other students or teachers from school work or which may be hazardous to themselves or to others in the course of school activities may be required to make the necessary alterations. Students who fail to meet the minimum acceptable standards of cleanliness and neatness, as determined by the principal or designee shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures including suspension.

SECONDARY STUDENT DRESS CODE FOR
UNIFORM AND NON-UNIFORM SCHOOLS

A. SECONDARY DRESS REQUIREMENTS:
1. Pants and trousers shall be worn properly fastened so that the waistband is not below the top of the hip bone. Pant hems shall not extend beyond the heel of the shoe. All pants and trousers shall be worn with belts at the secondary level.
2. The hem or slit of skirts, shorts, or dresses shall be worn no shorter than two inches above the knee. Skirts and shorts shall be properly fastened so that the waistband is not below the top of the hip bone.
3. Shirts, T-shirts, and blouses shall be of appropriate size and length to cover the waistband while sitting or standing.
4. Caps, hats, hoods, scarves, and other head coverings shall not be worn in any building, except those worn for religious or medical purposes.
5. Overalls or any bibbed garment may be worn with an appropriate shirt or blouse underneath.
6. The dress code shall not prohibit students from wearing coats, jackets, sweaters, or other appropriate outer garments when necessary due to inclement weather or temperature conditions.

B. THE FOLLOWING SECONDARY CLOTHING ITEMS ARE PROHIBITED:

1. Accessories that may be potentially dangerous and may include but are not limited to spiked arm bands, spiked necklaces, heavy chains, or other sharp objects;
2. Clothing or accessories associated with gangs or any garment with obscene, offensive, intimidating language relating to gangs or violence;
3. Clothing or accessories that reference the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or violence;
4. Clothing or accessories associated with discrimination on the basis of gender, age, race, religious
creed, color, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or disability;
5. Clothing exposing the torso or upper thighs such as see-through garments, spaghetti straps, mini-
skirts, mini-dresses, halters, backless dresses or shirts, tube tops, tank tops, bare midriff outfits,
or shirts and/or blouses tied at the midriff;
6. Clothing that promotes sexually suggestive material;
7. Clothing not properly fastened;
8. Visible undergarments, such as boxer shorts, bras, and thongs;
9. Undergarments worn as outer garments;
10. Nightwear/loungewear/pajamas;
11. Torn or frayed clothing;
12. Tight fitting clothing made of spandex or spandex-like fabric, including bicycle shorts;
13. Excessively large or form-fitting clothing that is disruptive to the order and discipline of the school setting or constitutes a safety hazard to the student(s);
14. Footwear that is deemed hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of students or others, such as bedroom slippers, flip flops, or cleats. The principal may further designate the footwear that is permissible under the dress code policy;
15. Clothing that exposes private body areas including cleavage, groin, buttocks, navel, and midriff;
16. Articles of clothing, jewelry, buttons, haircuts, tattoos, markings, or other attire that is disruptive, offensive, suggestive, or indecent.

C. EXCEPTIONS TO THE DRESS CODE SHALL BE PERMITTED WHEN:

1. A student wears a button, armband, or other accoutrement to exercise the right of free speech guaranteed by the United States and Florida Constitutions, unless the button, armband, or other accoutrement signifies or is related to gangs, gang membership, gang activity, discrimination on the basis of gender, age, race, religious creed, color, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or disability, or would otherwise violate the dress code policy.
2. A student wears a costume or special clothing necessary for a school play or other school sponsored activity as permitted by the principal.
3. A student wears clothing in the intended manner of a nationally-recognized youth organization, i.e., JROTC, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, on regular meeting days.
4. The wearing of clothing in compliance with the dress code violates a student's sincerely held religious belief.

D. SECONDARY DISCIPLINARY CODE

1. A student’s failure to adhere to the provisions of the student dress code as set forth above shall constitute a violation of student code and shall be subject to discipline as follows:
a. First offense - Verbal warning to student; student provided appropriate clothing to wear from the school’s clothes locker or by parent; attempt to notify parent of violation.
b. Second offense - Parent contacted to pick up student and/or bring appropriate clothes; conference with the parent(s) to discuss further consequences.
c. Third and subsequent offenses - Student will be placed in OSS (out-of-school suspension) and/or other discipline action to be determined by school as set forth in the Interventions/Consequences” section of the Discipline Procedures for the Escambia County Schools in the most recent edition of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, Grade 6-12.

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Students in kindergarten through twelfth (12th) grade assigned to an Alternative Education Disciplinary Program shall be required to dress in accordance with the dress code policy in effect at the Alternative Education School.

UNIFORMS

A. The School Advisory Council (SAC) shall confer with the principal to determine whether there is a need/justification to consider an election to adopt the District-Wide Uniform for a period of two (2) years at both the elementary and secondary levels. The School Advisory Council’s intention to discuss this subject with the school’s parent population will be advertised at least seven (7) calendar days in advance. The process can be found in School Board Rule 7.19.
B. District-Wide School Uniform Standard: The District's uniform shall consist of solid colored khaki, navy, or black trousers, skirts, shorts, or jumpers. Shirts shall be collared and will be solid white, red, or dark blue and worn tucked in. Students in grades K-5 shall not be required to tuck in their shirts. Pull-over sweat shirts or solid sweaters of appropriate uniform colors may be worn over uniform shirt or blouse. No denim shall be allowed at the secondary level.
C. In addition, the school uniform and appearance shall be governed by the same provisions as in the secondary dress code A, B, C, and D.