Dress Code
VUSD Dress Code
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1. Shoes must be worn at all times.
2. Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles etc.) shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane or sexually suggestive, which bear drug, alcohol or tobacco company advertising, promotions and likenesses; which promote violence, illegal activity, or relate to gang affiliation or activity; or which advocate racial, ethnic, religious or sexual orientation prejudice.
3. Students are allowed to wear “sun-protective headgear”, which consists of a full-brim hat. The hat is to be worn as intended to provide sun protection and is only to be worn outdoors.
4. Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. See-through or fish-net fabrics, halter tops, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops and bare midriffs are prohibited.
5. Attire or accessories, which may be used as a weapon, are not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to chains, wallet chains, and items with spikes or studs.
6. Sunglasses shall not be worn in school buildings unless there is a physician’s letter on file specifying the need.
Secondary schools (7-12) may also develop specific district-wide dress and grooming standards, which may be more restrictive than the above K-12 standards. These will be posted in the student conduct code.
Coaches, teachers and administrators may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports, classes, activities or ceremonies.
Students BP 5132(a)
DRESS AND GROOMING
The Governing Board believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment. The Board expects students to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to wear clothes that are suitable for the school activities in which they participate. Students' clothing must not present a health or safety hazard or a distraction which would interfere with the educational process.
(cf. 4119.22 - Dress and Grooming) (cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression: Publications Code)
Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about dress and grooming standards at the beginning of the school year and whenever these standards are revised. A student who violates these standards shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
(cf. 5144 - Discipline)
Gang-Related Apparel
The principal, staff and parents/guardians at a school may establish a reasonable dress code that prohibits students from wearing gang-related apparel when there is evidence of a gang presence that disrupts or threatens to disrupt the school's activities. Such a dress code may be included as part of the safety component in the school plan and must be presented to the Board for approval. The Board shall approve the plan upon determining that it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the school's students.
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan) (cf. 5136 - Gangs)
Uniforms
In order to promote student safety and discourage theft, peer rivalry and/or gang activity, the principal, staff and parents/guardians at a school may establish a reasonable dress code requiring students to wear uniforms. Such a dress code may be included as part of the school safety plan and must be presented to the Board for approval. The Board shall approve the plan upon determining that it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the school's students.
BP 5132(b)
DRESS AND GROOMING (continued)
If a school's plan to require uniforms is adopted, the Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures whereby parents/guardians may choose to have their children exempted from the school uniform policy. Students shall not be penalized academically, otherwise discriminated against or denied attendance to school if their parents/guardians so decide. (Education Code 35183)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that resources are identified to assist economically disadvantaged students in obtaining uniforms.
Legal Reference: EDUCATION CODE 35183 School dress codes; uniforms 35294.1 School safety plans 48907 Student exercise of free expression 49066 Grades; effect of physical education class apparel CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5 302 Pupils to be neat and clean on entering school COURT DECISIONS Marvin H. Jeglin et al v. San Jacinto Unified School District et al, (C.D. Cal. 1993) 827 F.Supp. 1459 Arcadia Unified School District v. California Department of Education, (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 251 Hartzell v. Connell, (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 899
Policy VISALIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT adopted: February 23, 1999 Visalia, California
AR 5132(a) Students DRESS AND GROOMING
In cooperation with teachers, students and parents/guardians, the principal or designee shall establish school rules governing student dress and grooming which are consistent with law, Governing Board policy and administrative regulations. These school dress codes shall be regularly reviewed.
It is the responsibility of students and parents, with the cooperation of the school, to maintain an acceptable standard of dress. General campus and classroom dress should be neat, clean and worn as not to disrupt the learning environment of any student.
(cf. 0420 - School Plans/Site Councils)
The following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities for grades K-12:
1. Shoes must be worn at all times.
2. Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles etc.) shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane or sexually suggestive, which bear drug, alcohol or tobacco company advertising, promotions and likenesses; which promote violence, illegal activity, or relate to gang affiliation or activity; or which advocate racial, ethnic, religious or sexual orientation prejudice.
3. Students are allowed to wear “sun-protective headgear”, which consists of a full-brim hat. The hat is to be worn as intended to provide sun protection and is only to be worn outdoors.
4. Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. See-through or fish-net fabrics, halter tops, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops and bare midriffs are prohibited.
5. Attire or accessories, which may be used as a weapon, are not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to chains, wallet chains, and items with spikes or studs.
6. Sunglasses shall not be worn in school buildings unless there is a physician’s letter on file specifying the need.
Secondary schools (7-12) may also develop specific district-wide dress and grooming standards, which may be more restrictive than the above K-12 standards. These will be posted in the student conduct code.
Coaches, teachers and administrators may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports, classes, activities or ceremonies.
(cf. 3260 - Fees and Charges)
AR 5132(b) Students
DRESS AND GROOMING (continued)
No grade of a student participating in a physical education class shall be adversely affected if the student does not wear standardized physical education apparel because of circumstances beyond the student's control. (Education Code 49066)
(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
The principal, staff, students and parent/guardians at each school may establish reasonable dress and grooming regulations for times when students are engaged in extracurricular or other special school activities.
Gang-Related Apparel
At individual schools that have a dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel at school or school activities, the principal, staff and parents/guardians participating in the development of the school safety plan shall define "gang-related apparel" and shall limit this definition to apparel that reasonably could be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school environment if it were worn or displayed on a school campus. (Education Code 35294.1)
Because gang-related symbols are constantly changing, definitions of gang-related apparel shall be reviewed at least once each semester and updated whenever related information is received.
Uniforms
In schools where a school-wide uniform is required, the principal, staff and parents/guardians of the individual school shall jointly select the specific uniform to be worn. (Education Code 35183)
At least six months before a school uniform policy is implemented, the principal or designee shall notify parents/guardians of this policy. (Education Code 35183)
Parents/guardians shall also be informed of their right to have their child exempted.
The principal or designee shall also repeat this notification at the end of the school year so that parents/guardians are reminded before school clothes are likely to be purchased.
The Superintendent or designee shall establish criteria for determining student eligibility for financial assistance when purchasing uniforms.
AR 5132(c) Students
DRESS AND GROOMING (continued)
The Superintendent or designee shall establish a method for recycling or exchanging uniforms as students grow out of them.
Students who participate in a nationally recognized youth organization shall be allowed to wear organization uniforms on days when the organization has a scheduled meeting. (Education Code 35183)