Dress Code Expectations

To meet the basic standards of the dress code, students must wear:

1. A shirt covering the full front, back, and sides, with straps over the shoulders
2. Pants, shorts, skirts, or other lower body attire that is secured at or above the hips and provides full coverage longer than mid-thigh length
3. Sturdy-soled footwear
4. All middle and high school students are required to have in their possession an unaltered school issued photo identification card (ID) during school hours, or at such times, locations, and activities specifically identified by the building principal

Appropriate athletic clothing may be worn in physical education classes. Clothing normally worn when participating in school-sponsored extracurricular or sports activities may be worn to school when approved by the appropriate building administrator or designee.

The District will accommodate students who wear items required by their sincerely held religious beliefs, cultural practices, or disability-related needs. Such items are permitted unless they pose a legitimate safety concern or cause or are likely to cause substantial disruption to the educational environment. Students or parents seeking accommodation should contact the building principal.

The following items are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities:

1. Clothing that exposes the torso, chest, back, buttocks, or sags below the hips, including but not limited to: backless clothing, tube tops, or garments made of sheer, fishnet, mesh, or similar see-through material
2. Sunglasses or dark glasses worn inside the building during school hours unless required as part of a class or activity
3. Hats, hairnets, hoods, and other head coverings worn inside the building during school hours unless required as part of a class or activity
4. Any inappropriate or disruptive clothing item or accessory that causes or may cause a substantial disruption to or material interference with school safety, personal safety or the learning environment may result in discretionary intervention by school administrators
5. Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, tattoos, apparel, head coverings, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that:
   1. Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons
   2. Are of a sexual nature
   3. Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous
   4. Threaten the safety or welfare of any person
   5. Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
   6. Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process
   7. Tattoos displaying any of these must be covered at all times.
6. Trench coats are not permitted anywhere on school property
7. Apparel must be worn in a way such that private parts and undergarments are not exposed. Clothing that shows these areas through transparent or see-through material is not permitted
8. Any jewelry that could be used as a weapon (as determined by safety and security)

The Board of Education desires to keep district schools and students free from the threats or harmful influence of any groups or gangs which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior.

Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, tattoos, apparel, head coverings, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, pictures, or any other attribute that denotes membership or affiliation with any gang or related behavior is prohibited on school grounds, in school vehicles, and at school activities or sanctioned events.

The following specific items have been identified as gang-related and are prohibited at all district schools and sites:

1. Solid red or solid blue shirts or undershirts unless otherwise part of an enhanced dress code
2. Solid red or blue pants, shorts, or undershorts unless otherwise part of an enhanced dress code
3. Bandanas
4. Solid red or blue belts, rosaries, or shoelaces
5. Team jerseys or belt buckles that display the numbers 13, 14, 18, 31, 41 or 81
6. Shaved or notched eyebrows (when used to signify gang involvement)

Building principals may identify additional gang-related apparel prohibited at their school after consultation with the superintendent or designee and local law enforcement. Schools will notify students and families of any building-specific gang-related apparel restrictions. Students on gang contracts may be subject to additional restrictions as determined by building administration. For additional information, see District Policy JICF, Secret Societies/Gang Activity. This section on gang-related apparel shall be reviewed on an annual basis and updated or revised as appropriate.

When a student is not in compliance with the dress code, school staff will notify the student of the requirement to change clothing. The school will work with the student to obtain appropriate clothing immediately, which may include:

1. Allowing the student to change into their own alternative clothing if available at school
2. Providing temporary school-appropriate clothing
3. Contacting parents/guardians to bring alternative clothing to school

Continued or repeated failure to comply with dress code standards may result in parental notification, a conference with school administration, or disciplinary consequences in accordance with the district's student discipline policies for insubordination.

The district reserves the right to deny any individual entrance to any school or district site if it determines, in its discretion, that the individual is not in compliance with this policy.

Graduating students are expected to wear the attire customarily worn for the graduation ceremony at their school, with the specific exceptions outlined below.

A student may adorn the cap, gown, or stole customarily worn at their school with traditional objects of tribal regalia and/or objects of cultural or religious significance. Adornments are something worn in addition to, but not replacing, graduation attire, and are not limited to decorating graduation caps. Tribal regalia or objects of cultural or religious significance means formal attire used in recognized practices and traditions of a certain group of people. Adornments cannot include any alphabetical letters other than the student’s name or numerals other than the graduating class (e.g. Class of 2026). Other written statements, phrases, or slogans are not permitted.

Students are required to request permission to wear an adornment in advance, and the district reserves the right to prohibit any adornments that are obscene, defamatory, fraudulent, profane, threatening, inappropriate, or disruptive or violate the dress code in any other manner. If it is determined that the adornment would cause a substantial disruption or material interference based on reliable evidence, the student’s request may be denied. Students who wear adornments that have not been approved may be required to remove the adornment if the adornment is likely to cause a substantial disruption of, or material interference with, the graduation ceremony.

An adornment worn by a student must comply with the school’s and school district's dress code policies.

Building principals, in conjunction with the school accountability committee and their supervisor, may develop and adopt school-specific dress codes that are consistent with this policy.

Individual schools may require students to wear school uniforms in accordance with the district’s enhanced dress code procedures. Any school uniform policy must be developed by the building principal in collaboration with the school accountability committee and approved by the superintendent or designee. Schools implementing uniform requirements must provide information to families regarding the uniform policy and must make accommodations for students who are unable to obtain required uniforms due to financial hardship or for religious, cultural, or disability-related reasons.

Some schools in District 6 have individually chosen to have a more detailed and prescriptive dress code, in addition to the districtwide Universal Student Dress Code. The enhanced dress code is also sometimes called a “school uniform.”

Schools following the enhanced dress code work with local service organizations to provide families with assistance in purchasing the designated clothing.

Elementary Schools

The following elementary schools use an enhanced dress code for students:

• Centennial Elementary  
• Jackson Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• Maplewood Elementary
• Martinez Elementary
• Romero Elementary

Shirts

• Must be gray or white
• Must have sleeves, either short or long
• Must have collars
• Shirts cannot display logos, designs, or brand names (except for school name/logo/mascot/etc.)

Pants, skirts, jumpers, and shorts

• Must be black, khaki, or dark blue
• No denim jeans
• No sweatpants, baggy pants or stretch pants

Middle Schools

Currently, Prairie Heights & Franklin Middle School are the only middle schools that have an enhanced dress code.

Shirts

• Shirts must be dark green, gray, or black
• Shirts must have a collar

Pants

• Khaki or black
• No denim jeans