FILE:  JCDB

 

DRESS CODE

 

 

The policy of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall be that no mode of attire shall be considered proper for school wear that distracts from or disrupts classroom and school decorum.  In questions regarding student dress and grooming, the principals of each school will make the final decision as to what is considered proper or improper dress.

 

DRESS AND PERSONAL GROOMING

 

Student dress and grooming are not to adversely affect the students' participation in classes, school programs, other school-related activities or detract from the learning environment of the school.  Extremes in style and fit in student dress and extremes in style of grooming will not be permitted.  Administrators are authorized to use their discretion in determining extremes in styles of dress and grooming and what is appropriate and suitable for school wear.  Policies regarding dress and grooming stress the importance of reducing distractions that inhibit learning and are addressed as an attempt to enhance the learning environment.

 

The School Board shall not exclude a student on account of a natural, protective or cultural hairstyle.  Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle shall include, but is not limited to, afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs, braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural significance.

 

NOTIFICATION

 

Each school shall notify the parent or guardian of each student of the dress code specifications and their effective date.  Each school shall include in its official student handbook the uniform policy/dress code for students.  The dress code shall be distributed in written form or posted on the school’s website annually.

 

If a school adopts a new uniform policy or modifies an existing uniform policy, it shall notify in writing the parent or guardian of each student of the policy adoption or uniform policy modification at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of the new or revised policy.  Each school shall display any uniform selected for a reasonable period prior to the proposed effective date for wearing of the uniform.

 

However, nothing shall prohibit the School Board from requiring a new or revised dress code or uniform policy without the required notice in the event of an emergency.  For the purposes of this policy, emergency shall mean an actual or imminent threat to health or safety which may result in loss of life, injury, or property damage.

 

DRESS CODE

 

Any substantial complaint concerning the dress code shall be dealt with by the school administration.

 

In accordance with the above, all St. John the Baptist Parish schools’ dress codes shall adhere to the following guidelines:

 

  1. Clothing should be so constructed and worn in such a manner that it is not unduly revealing.  Halter tops, "tank tops", see-through garments, cut-off tops, midriff tops and other garments of this nature are not acceptable.  All shirts, blouses, and other tops must exceed beltline with no waistline-skin exposed.

  2. Shorts are not appropriate for school wear for boys and girls with the exception that unaltered, uniform shorts will be authorized.

  3. Shirts and blouses are to be buttoned.

  4. Hair shall be neat, clean and well-groomed.

  5. Sundresses are not permitted in grades 7-12.

  6. No article of clothing shall be worn that distracts from the educational process.

  7. Articles of clothing associated with alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or drugs shall not be worn.

  8. No article of clothing or accessories shall be worn that contains obscene, profane, or sex-related words or pictures.

  9. No student shall wear, possess, use, distribute, display or sell any clothing, jewelry, emblem, blade, symbols, sign or other things which are evidence of affiliation with violence or gang related activities.

  10. Personal hygiene and cleanliness of dress are expected of all students.

  11. Proper undergarments should be worn at all times.

  12. Skirts should be at least to the knee.

  13. Clothes shall not be skin-tight, form-fitting, nor contain holes.

 

ACCESSORIES

 

All students shall be required to use clear (see-through) book bags or completely mesh bags, except for such bags and packs which have bullet-resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury, and girls shall have purses no larger than 8" x 8".

 

BODY ARMOR

 

It shall be unlawful and against School Board policy for any student or non-student to wear or possess on his/her person, at any time, body armor on any School Board property, school campus, at a school-sponsored function, on a school bus or other school transportation, or in a firearm-free zone, with limited exceptions as enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:95.9, which includes permitting a student to wear, carry, or possess a backpack on school property or a school bus that has bullet-resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.

 

School-sponsored functions shall include, but not be limited to, athletic competitions, dances, parties, or any extracurricular activities.  A firearm-free zone means any area inclusive of any school campus and within 1,000 feet of any such school campus, and within a school bus, wherein the possession of firearms is prohibited, except as specifically set forth in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.2(C) and 14:95.6(B).

 

Body armor shall mean bullet-resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.

 

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

 

Students who violate the dress code shall be disciplined in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

 

A student enrolled in grades prekindergarten through five shall not be suspended or expelled from school or suspended from riding on any school bus for a uniform violation that is not tied to willful disregard of school policies.

 

Adopted:  September, 1978 Revised:  December, 2008
Revised:  October, 1988 Revised:  September 22, 2011
Revised:  June, 1991 Revised:  August, 2015
Revised:  August, 1991 Revised:  March 17, 2016
Revised:  March, 1994 Revised:  August 16, 2018
Revised:  September, 1994 Revised:  November 10, 2022

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.2, 14:95.6, 14:95.9, 17:81, 17:111, 17:416, 17:416.7

Scott v. Board of Education, 304 N.Y.S.S. 2d 601 (1969)

Karr v. Schmidt, 460 F. 2d 609 (5th Cir. 1972)

Board minutes, 8-4-88, 1-10-91, 3-21-91, 5-2-91, 3-3-94, 7-21-94, 10-2-08, 9-22-11, 3-17-16, 8-16-18, 11-10-22

 

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board