Dress Code

Over the last several years, the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC), along with students across the district, expressed concerns about the current San Juan Unified dress code policy (Board Policy 5132).

• During the 2020-21 school year, student listening sessions were held to gather feedback at El Camino Fundamental High School, Bella Vista High School and Will Rogers Middle School.
• SSAC brought this issue forward as an area of concern in 2020.
• A student committee was formed and worked in conjunction with SSAC to create a survey, while a survey was also developed for staff and families. To date, over 4,800 staff, students, and families have completed the survey calling out the following concerns with many aspects of the existing policy:
  • Exhibiting gender bias
  • Exhibiting discriminatory, exclusionary and racially sensitive language
  • Concerns about shaming
  • Concerns about missed class time
  • Inconsistent enforcement

In the 2022-23 school year, a district committee was formed to draft a revised dress code policy. 

San Juan Unified School District (San Juan Unified ) convened the District Dress Code Committee (DDCC) in response to a growing concern brought forward by students and later staff regarding inequitable dress code enforcement, particularly concerning female students and minoritized students. 

 DDCC includes teachers, parents, students, and school administrators working with staff representatives. The Committee reviewed and discussed:  

• Policy objectives of public school dress codes generally and specifically; 

• Experience of teachers, staff, and administrators enforcing school discipline policies at different grade levels and different schools; 

• Policies promoting equity and student dignity and self-determination; 

• Feedback from community focus groups on the existing dress code and its enforcement, and recommendations to update the dress code policy; 

• Feedback from surveys of administrators, teachers, parents/guardians and students regarding the existing dress code and its enforcement, and recommendations to update the dress code policy; and 

• Information from and proposed dress code policies recommended or adopted by other school districts and policy organizations. 

The DDCC objective is to consider and recommend a district-wide dress code policy (“Policy”) and Administrative Regulation (“AR”) concerning its application. Together the Policy and AR should enable and promote the following: 

• Treat all students with dignity and equity, regardless of gender/gender identification, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, body type/size, religion, and personal style. 

• Administrators and staff charged with applying and enforcing the dress code should be educated and informed about the Policy and AR to enforce it consistently and equitably across all schools in the district. 

• Maintain a safe learning environment in classes where protective or supportive clothing is needed, such as chemistry/biology (eye or body protection), dance (bare feet, tights/leotards), PE (athletic attire/shoes), or CTE class requirements.  

• Allow students to wear clothing of their choice that is comfortable.  

• Allow students to wear clothing that expresses their self-identified gender. 

• Allow students to wear religious attire without fear of discipline or discrimination.  

• Prevent students from wearing clothing with offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, or pornography. 

• Prevent students from wearing clothing with images or language depicting or advocating violence or the use of alcohol or drugs.  

The former Superintendent directed his team to build a committee based on feedback from his SSAC.  

• There was a district-wide call out for volunteers via newsletters, email, social media, and phone calls to:

  • Students

  • Staff (support staff, teachers, administrators, central office staff)

  • Families & community

• Approximately 80 people responded to the request to join the committee.  

• 22 people (representing 12 school sites) selected have varying roles in the district and viewpoints on the dress code update

  • 6 parents

  • 6 students (middle and high school)

  • 3 administrators (1 elementary, 1 middle school, 1 high school)

  • 1 central office staff

  • 1 special education teacher

  • 2 general education teachers

  • 1 trauma coordinator

  • 1 legal representation

  • 1 Family and Community Engagement representative

List of Focus Groups & Surveys

• Students at Bella Vista High School

• Students at El Camino Fundamental High School

• Students at Rio Americano High School 

• Students at Will Rogers Middle School 

• Students via district-wide survey

• Staff via district-wide survey

• Parents via district-wide survey

• Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council 

• Administrators

1. Dress Code - Alameda Unified School District 

Process: The elements of the new policy are detailed in the pages that follow. You can also find information – including FAQs - on the new policy on this webpage. The policy is currently in a pilot stage; the district will be collecting feedback from students, families, and staff throughout the fall and will summarize the feedback for the Board in December, 2018.

Jan/Feb 2019 Workgroup discussion/revision Mar/Apr 2019 Revised draft shared with stakeholders Stakeholder input reviewed Final revisions made to draft May 2019 Final policy presented to BOE Aug 2019 Final policy implemented (if approved)

2. Toronto District School Board: TDSB Dress Policy (with Q and A)

Process: There was considerable consultation process, including posting the draft policy on the TDSB website for 90 days, an online public survey portal, as well as focus group discussions / consultations with students, staff, parents/guardians and other key stakeholders. The Board received more than 400 written feedback submissions, 19% of those from students. This feedback was used to redraft the final version of the policy.

3. Seattle Public Schools  - STUDENT DRESS Policy No. 3224  

(Process not included) 

4. Rocklin Union School District - RUSD Dress Code Board Policy 5132

Process: The process to change the dress code originated from student voice. The dress code was deemed to be gender slanted and outdated. A committee was formed that included students, staff, administration, and community members to recommend changes to the existing dress code. The committee solicited feedback from students, staff and community members. The committee met multiple times during the school year and recommended changes to the school board. The school board approved the revised dress code. Site administrators reported little to no training for staff on enforcing dress code. The training that did occur included showing staff the revised dress code and discussing ways to contact VP’s if teacher’s feel uncomfortable enforcing dress code.

5. Portland Public Schools - Administrative Directive 4.30.013-AD

Process: Districtwide Dress Code Advisory Committee: PPS appointed an advisory committee made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and students whose charge it was to recommend changes to the dress code.

New Dress Code Adopted: The advisory committee met over the next year, gathering information and inviting public comment, and recommended an updated dress code, which was adopted by the Portland Public School’s Board of Education in June 2016.

PPS Process for Adoption of a Uniform Dress Code. (1) If a school is interested in piloting a uniform dress code, the principal shall: (a) Convene at least two parent/community meetings to discuss and receive input regarding the adoption of a uniform dress code. (b) Consult with school staff and students to discuss and receive input regarding the adoption of a uniform dress code. (c) Determine, via a survey or some other accurate method of measure, that a majority of the school community supports the Administrative Directive 4.30.013-AD Student Dress Code Page 5 of 6 adoption of a uniform dress code. (2) Consult with the area director.

6. Olympus (Roseville) Junior High School - The Dress Code: Olympus Junior High School - Dress Code  (Process was not provided)

7. New York Public Schools: dress code guidelines

Guidelines for Process: Schools may develop and implement a dress code. All schools are strongly advised to reexamine any existing dress code practices using these guidelines. Before developing a new dress code or reexamining an existing one, schools should consult with their School Leadership Team, parents, and various members of the student body in order to ensure that different perspectives and identities are considered and respected.

Dress codes must be implemented equally and in a non-discriminatory manner. Schools must ensure that all staff, students, and parents are advised in writing of the dress code, students’ rights with respect to their attire, and consequences for students wearing clothing that violates the dress code.

The committee calibrated an understanding of the problem, as well as researched and reviewed other district policies and practices. The committee then created a proposed draft policy, gathered input and feedback, and revised draft policy.

Committee actions:

• Determined what input/information was needed 

• Drafted and published a survey for staff and families

• Received 200+ responses from staff and families

• Reviewed and  discussed staff, family, and student feedback

• Determined themes/trends that overlap between the two surveys

• Determined important considerations based on the survey information for the group to keep in mind as they moved forward

• Created a proposed draft policy

• Public review of draft policy: April 8-May 17. 2024
• Review and revise draft policy, as needed: End of public review period
• Recommendation to Board of Education: June 2024
• Upon adoption of new dress code policy:
  • Staff trainings
  • Communication with students and families

Public review window was open from April 8 - May 17, 2024 • Staff, students, and community were invited to review the draft dress code and provide feedback through a survey, available in multiple languages • Community information and input gathering sessions offered virtual and in-person opportunities: • April 10, 11, May 6, 2024

The feedback survey received nearly 2,000 responses, including:

• 377 students from 26 schools (19%)
• 784 staff from 52 schools/sites (40%)
• 770 caregivers from 55 schools
• 13 community partners from 11 schools

Positives:

• Increased freedom of expression and individuality
• Enhanced comfort and Accessibility of language
• Reduced gender bias and increased inclusivity for cultural attire 
• Positive impact on body image and self-esteem
• Reduction in disciplinary actions and missed class time

Challenges/Concerns:

• Potential for overly casual or inappropriate attire leading to distractions
• Accessibility of language
• Tube tops
• Enforcement and consistency
• Shoes for elementary students

Revisions were made to the dress code based on the feedback.