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Staff Resources > School Board > Board Policy > 500 Students > 504 STUDENT DRESS AND APPEARANCE
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504 STUDENT DRESS AND APPEARANCE

Mabel Canton Schools
Adopted 2000
Revised:

504 STUDENT DRESS AND APPEARANCE

I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to enhance the education of students by establishing expectations of dress and grooming that are related to educational goals and community standards.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
A. It is the policy of this school district to encourage students to dress appropriately for school activities and in keeping with community standards.

B. Appropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Clothing appropriate for the weather.
2. Clothing that does not create a health or safety hazard.
3. Clothing appropriate for the activity (i.e., physical education or the class room).

C. Inappropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Short shorts, skimpy tank tops, tops that expose the midriff, and other clothing that is not in keeping with community standards.
2. Clothing bearing a message that is lewd, vulgar, or obscene.
3. Apparel promoting products or activities that are illegal for use by minors.
4. Objectionable emblems, badges, symbols, signs, words, objects or pictures on clothing or jewelry communicating a message that is racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory to a protected minority group, evidences gang membership or affiliation, or approves, advances or provokes any form of religious, racial or sexual harassment and/or violence against other individuals as defined in MSBA/MASA Model Policy 413.
5. Any apparel or footwear that would damage school property.

D. Hats are not allowed in the building except with the approval of the building principal (i.e., student undergoing chemotherapy; medical situations); or in the immediate gymnasium area during after hours athletic events. Hats are not to be worn inside any public building when students are participating in a school sponsored event, competition, or field trip.

E. It is not the intention of this policy to abridge the rights of students to express political, religious, philosophical, or similar opinions by wearing apparel on which such messages are stated. Such messages are acceptable as long as they are not lewd, vulgar, obscene, defamatory, profane or do not advocate violence or harassment against others.

F. Gang, as defined in this policy, means any ongoing organization, association or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more criminal acts, which has an identifiable name or identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or collectively engage in or whose members engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity. Pattern of gang activity means the commission, attempt to commit, conspiring to commit, or solicitation of two or more criminal acts, provided the criminal acts were committed on separate dates or by two or more persons who are members of or belong to the same criminal street gang.

III. PROCEDURES
A. When, in the judgment of the administration, a student's appearance, grooming, or mode of dress interferes with or disrupts the educational process or school activities, or poses a threat to the health or safety of the student or others, the student will be directed to make modifications or will be sent home for the day. Parents/guardians will be notified.

B. The administration may recommend a form of dress considered appropriate for a specific event and communicate the recommendation to students and parents/guardians.

C. Likewise, an organized student group may recommend a form of dress for students considered appropriate for a specific event and make such recommendation to the administration for approval.

Legal References: U. S. Constitution, First Amendment.; Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 89 S.Ct. 733, 21 L.Ed.2d 731 (1969).; Stephenson v. Davenport Community School District, 110 F.3d 1303 (8th Cir. 1997). Hicks v. Halifax County Board of Educ., No. 98-CV-981-BR (E.D.N.C. 1999)
McIntire v. Bethel School, I.S.D. No. 3, 804 F. Supp. 1415, 78 Educ. L.Rep. 828 (W.D. Okla. 1992); Olesen v. Board of Educ. of Sch. Dist. No. 228, 676 F. Supp. 822, 44 Educ. L. Rep. 205 (N.D. Ill. 1987).

Cross References: MSBA/MASA Model Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 506 (Student Discipline)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 525 (Violence Prevention)
 


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