REGULATION
STUDENT DRESS
The District encourages students to take pride in their dress and grooming as it relates to the school setting. The student dress shall apply to the school day and for any school sponsored event. Responsibility for the personal appearance of students enrolled in the District normally shall rest with the students themselves and their parents. Students should dress in a manner that, in addition to the following guidelines, takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health, and welfare of self and others. All administrators, teachers and staff members will share the responsibility for enforcing the District’s student dress policy and will have discretion, using the greatest degree of objectivity, to determine the appropriateness of students’ attire.
Students shall not be unnecessarily disciplined for their choice of attire, jewelry or personal items when initially addressed. However, repetitive behavior may result in defiance.
A. Students must wear appropriate clothing including a top and a bottom (such as pants, shorts, skirt or the equivalent), or a one-piece outfit (such as a dress or jumpsuit) and footwear as required by State law.
B. Clothing fabric must:
● cover all private body parts
● cover the torso (i.e. stomach, back, chest)
● cover undergarments
● not be see-through
Undergarment waistbands and/or straps that are incidentally visible under clothing are permitted; however, undergarments may not be worn as outerwear. Clothing may not cover a student's face to the extent that the student is not identifiable (except clothing worn for health and safety, medical, or religious purposes).
C. Clothing and shoes (with a hard sole) must be suitable for scheduled classroom activities and for outdoor use. Closed toe shoes should be worn in physical education, science labs, career/technical education and other activities where unique hazards exist. Safety or special purpose equipment shall be worn when required.
D. Jewelry shall not be worn if it presents a safety hazard.
E. Clothing, accessories and/or jewelry may not state, imply, or depict hate speech/imagery targeting groups based on race, symbols of sex, pornography, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body/type size.
F. Students may wear clothing, accessories and jewelry that display religious/cultural messages or religious/cultural symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted.
G. Subject to the above, any item that conceals the eyes, ears, or mouth (i.e., sunglasses, beanies, hoodies, etc.) may not be worn inside a classroom or school building, except for properly approved occupational safety headgear required for special classes or if authorized by a school administrator or as authorized/prescribed by a medical professional.
H. The following are expressly prohibited on clothing:
● obscene language or symbols
● symbols of drugs
● sex, pornography
● criminal activity, unlawful use of weapons, advocation of violence or hate speech
● promotion of drugs, or alcohol or tobacco
I. Students may not wear clothing, accessories and/or jewelry with images, symbols, slogans, word or phrases that are profane, discriminatory or defamatory or that is worn with the intent to convey affiliation with a criminal street gang as defined in A.R.S. 13-105 and promote violence or acts of terror.
J. Hoods, beanies and sunglasses may be worn outside.
Exceptions for special activities or health considerations may be pre-approved by the administrator.
Students who volunteer for extracurricular activities, such as athletics, band, chorus, et cetera, are subject to the standards of dress as defined by the sponsors of such activities.
Any student whose attire does not meet the requirements of this policy may be asked to remedy the matter by covering, changing or removing the non-compliant clothing, jewelry or personal item as deemed appropriate. If the student’s own clothing is not available, the school may provide inconspicuous clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day. If necessary, students’ parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear.
Students will be treated with respect and dignity by staff members when dress code regulations are enforced.
To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of the dress code, school administration and all staff members will receive appropriate training and professional development to handle these situations as they arise, which will allow them to consistently enforce the dress code in accordance with this regulation.