LGBTQ+ students are disporportionately impacted by dress codes. Adopting and consistently enforcing a gender-neutral dress code is a hallmark of safe, affirming schools. The following suggested dress code mitigates issues around inequitable and inconsistent enforcement of such policies.
Download the dress code as a pdf
[School] strives to provide an engaging, collaborative, innovative learning environment that promotes inquiry and personal growth. These values are reflected in this dress code. Student dress is regulated, and students are encouraged to dress in clothing that is both comfortable and appropriate to the school situation. Student dress choices should respect [School]’s goals to cultivate and sustain a learning environment that is equitable, culturally competent, and celebrates a diverse range of identities.
It is also expected that everyone in the school community understands they are responsible for managing their own personal distractions and will not participate in behavior that reinforces or increases oppression of any group based on sex, race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, religion, social class, or body type and/or size. All students have the right to dress in accordance with their gender identity.
Clothes must be worn in such a way that genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric.
At [School] students may wear, as long as it meets the basic principle above:
- Hats must allow the face to be visible to staff, and not interfere with the line of sight of any student or staff;
- Religious headwear;
- Hoodie sweatshirts (wearing the hood overhead is allowed, but the face and ears must be visible to school staff);
- Fitted pants, including opaque leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans;”
- Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed;
- Tank tops, (including spaghetti straps), and halter tops;
- Athletic attire; and
- Visible waistbands or visible straps on undergarments worn under other clothing.
At [School] students cannot wear:
- Violent, sexual, or racist language, images, or associations;
- Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any item illegal for minors), or use of the same;
- Hate speech, profanity, sexualization, pornography, or gang related affiliations/logos/images;
- Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class;
- Visible underwear (visible waistbands or straps on undergarments worn under other opaque clothing are not a violation);
- Bathing suits (except as required in class or athletic practices);
- Accessories that could be dangerous or considered as a weapon;
- Any item that obscures the face or ears including sunglasses (except as a religious observance or as medically necessary or as appropriate on a school trip).
To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school staff shall enforce the dress code consistently using the requirements below. School staff shall not have discretion to vary the requirements in ways that leads to discriminatory enforcement.
Students should not be shamed or required to display their body in front of others (students, parents, or staff) in school. “Shaming” includes, but is not limited to:
- Kneeling or bending over to check attire fit;
- Measuring straps or skirt length;
- Asking students to account for their attire in the classroom or in hallways in front of others;
- Accusing students of “distracting” others with their clothing; and/or,
- Calling out students in spaces, in hallways, or in classrooms about perceived dress code violations in front of others; in particular, directing students to correct placement of pants or tops that do not expose the entire undergarment, or confronting students about visible waistbands or bra straps, since visible waistbands and straps on undergarments are permitted.
Notification of a dress code violation is sent discreetly to the student via email or school messaging system and includes an electronic pass to report to the office.
Parents or caregivers will not be notified of dress code violations until the 6th violation. Starting with the 8th violation, [School] may apply consequences.
These dress code guidelines shall apply to both staff and students and applies to regular school days and special event school days, as well as any school-related events and activities such as off-campus events, school trips, graduation ceremonies, dances, and prom.
Each school will appoint two universally trusted adults as Dress Code Ombudspersons. Students/staff who feel they have been subject to discriminatory enforcement of the dress code should contact the ombudsperson. A student/staffperson may also request that an ombudsperson joins them in the office when they are notified of a violation.