JDG - Student Dress and Appearance Standards

1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY 

The Board of Education recognizes that students’ dress and appearance can affect their education. Experience and research show that the learning atmosphere improves when students’ appearance is not distracting. In addition, appropriate student appearance helps increase safety.

Cooperation among schools, parents, and students will promote appropriate dress and appearance. Parents are primarily responsible for their students' appearance. 

The Board delegates to the school administration the responsibility to see that each student adheres to the dress and appearance standards set forth in this policy. 

2. GENERAL STANDARDS

The school administration may prohibit student clothing or appearance which:

Draws undue attention, distracts, disrupts, and/or interferes with the educational environment at school or at a school activity or event.

Endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the student or others.

May cause damage to school facilities or equipment.

A student who participates in a class, activity, or event that requires a uniform or other specified dress and appearance standards for safety or other reasons must meet the requirements of the class, activity, or event in order to participate.

3. SPECIFIC STANDARDS

Students shall comply with the following dress and appearance standards at school and at school activities or events:

Clothing must be neat, clean, and in good repair. 

In general, clothing must cover from one armpit to the other down to mid-thigh on the front, sides, and back, with no viewable underwear, and must connect from front to back over the shoulders with at least a wide strap. 

Clothing and personal items such as jewelry, backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc., shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignias that 

are lewd, obscene, vulgar, or profane; 

are violent or advocate hate; 

signify gang affiliation; 

promote or represent tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or illegal substances; 

promote or represent criminal or illegal activities; 

infringe upon the rights of others; or 

are sexually suggestive.

Hats and other head coverings may not be worn by students in elementary schools except as part of an approved school activity or event, for medical reasons, or as an exercise of a sincerely held religious belief. Students in secondary schools may wear hats and other head coverings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, hats and head coverings may not be worn in either elementary or secondary schools if doing so disrupts the educational environment, poses a danger to self or others, or limits the ability of others to identify the student. 

Sunglasses may not be worn by students in school buildings during the school day except as part of an approved school activity or for medical reasons. 

Appropriate footwear shall be worn at all times.

Gang-related clothing, personal items, hairstyles, and paraphernalia are not allowed in schools or at school related activities and events. This includes, but is not limited to, tattoos, bandanas, chains, clothing, or jewelry associated with gangs, gang symbols, names, initials, and insignias. School administration in consultation with law enforcement agencies will determine what constitutes "gang-related" clothing, personal items, hairstyles, and paraphernalia.

Jewelry, accessories, tattoos, hair, facial hair, and other elements of a student’s appearance that draw undue attention, distract, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with the learning atmosphere at school or at school activities and events, or that create a health, safety, or welfare issue are prohibited.

4. ENFORCEMENT AND DISCIPLINE

School administrators are responsible for implementing and enforcing of this policy and should do so with a reasonable approach. School administrators may approve exceptions to this policy for special school activities or events. 

Students and their parents are responsible for student adherence to these dress and appearance standards. Students not in compliance may be asked to change, remove, or cover the clothing or accessory that violates this policy. Any student violating this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, exclusion or loss of extracurricular activities, probation, alternate educational placement, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. Disciplinary procedures shall be followed as set forth in Nebo School District Policy JD, Student Conduct and Discipline.

5. PUBLICATION OF POLICY

This policy may be posted on the District’s website and published in student registration materials, student handbooks, parent information guides, and other appropriate school publications as directed by the District.

6. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

Nothing contained in this policy is intended to limit a student’s First Amendment rights of free speech and free exercise of religion, or their Fourteenth Amendment right to liberty. In the event that constitutional rights are implicated, a student’s dress and appearance may be prohibited or restricted by school administration if necessary to avoid material and substantial disruption of the school’s operations or intrusion upon the rights of students or others.