Student Dress Code

	Student Dress Code
Purpose: To establish the basic structure for appropriate dress standards for students in Richland School District Two which will provide a safe and orderly learning environment. Richland School District Two students are expected to dress and be groomed in such a way as to not distract or cause disruption in the educational program or orderly operation of the school. Personal appearance of students should promote health and safety, contribute to a climate conducive to teaching and learning, and project a positive image of the district to the community. School administrators will be responsible for determining dress code violations. The principal reserves the right to amend any provisions that he/she deems to be in the best interest of the student or the educational process. Students should dress for the educational setting and not the recreational one. The board will review the policy for any changes needed on a yearly basis. Middle School • Clothing and/or hair should not be so extreme or inappropriate to the school setting as to disrupt the educational process. Therefore, clothing deemed distracting, revealing, overly suggestive or otherwise disruptive shall not be permitted. • Wearing accessories or clothing that could pose a safety threat to one’s self or others is not allowed. This includes heavy chains not made as jewelry, fishhooks, multiple-finger rings (rings welded together resembling brass knuckles or rings that can be used as a weapon), studded bracelets or collars, nose/lip to ear chains, etc. Unusual body piercing that is disruptive to the order of the school, or is a distraction to the learning environment will not be allowed. • Attire must not evidence membership of affiliation with a “gang” in any negative sense of the term. In determining whether or not a student is in violation of the prohibition on the wearing/display of a gang-related item, the district will maintain, in all of its school offices, an example of potential gang indicators including symbols, hand signals, graffiti, and clothing/accessories (as stated in Policy JICF–Secret Societies/Gang Activity). Bandannas and do rags are not allowed on campus and will be confiscated. Hats are not allowed in school buildings. Picks or combs are not allowed in hair. Hair items such as plastic headbands, barrettes, and ribbons are permitted. School administrators will not be held liable for confiscated items. • Proper shoes must be worn at all times. Open back shoes are permitted. Shower shoes and bedroom slippers are not permitted. • Attire must not be immodest, obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, indecent, or offensive. Lower garments should be of adequate length to assure modesty when the student is seated or engaged in school activities. • Pants must be worn at the natural waistline and undergarments are not to be visible. If they do not fit properly, a belt must be worn to keep them in place. • Shirts must be tucked in to the extent that belts or waistbands are clearly visible at all times. • Sleeveless attire cannot reveal undergarments. Shirts cannot be tight, low cut or show cleavage. Shirts should be loose fitting and fully cover the upper body. Tank tops, halter-tops, shirts with spaghetti straps, and see through shirts will not be allowed. • Clothing must cover waist, shoulders and back with no skin showing between the top garment and bottom garment. • Pants and slacks must not touch the floor (no bagging, sagging, or dragging clothing). • No exposed undergarments. • No transparent or mesh clothing without an appropriate shirt underneath. • No apparel that is too revealing. • No clothing that is excessively form fitting (i.e. Spandex). • No sunglasses may be worn inside the buildings. • No wallet chains or other type chains that may be dangerous or disruptive. Students may not continue to attend class wearing inappropriate clothing. Parents nor students will place the burden of enforcing the dress code solely on the school. Parents and students are expected to comply to ensure that a comfortable, safe, and non-confrontational environment is provided for all students. Administrators and faculty members are expected to strictly enforce the dress code at all times. Violations of the dress code will result in the following: • Student(s) will be required to return home and change into appropriate attire or parent can bring proper clothing to school or student will be sent to in-school detention. • Repeated violations of this dress code shall be treated as disruptive behavior in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. However, dress code violations shall not carry over on the student’s discipline record to subsequent years. The school administration will determine the amount of lost instructional time a student must make up due to being out of class for inappropriate dress. The instructional time will be made up after school and at the financial expense of the student’s parent/guardian for a certified teacher to remain and instruct the student. Failure to do so may result in a student repeating the course(s).