FILE:  JCDB

Cf:  JCDBA, JD

STUDENT DRESS CODE

The policy of the Plaquemines Parish School Board shall be that no mode of attire will be considered proper for school wear that disrupts the classroom and/or the school's positive learning environment.  The principal or his/her designee of each school shall make decisions, with final approval from the superintendent, as to what is considered proper or improper dress according to the guidelines provided.

The School Board desires to teach each student to use good judgment in his/her total appearance so that the attention of others is not distracted from the purpose of the school.  Cleanliness and the values of the community shall be a basic consideration.

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.  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 drugs, alcohol, violence or gang related activities or exhibits profane or obscene language/gestures.  Beards and goatees shall be prohibited.  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.

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 exception as enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:95.9.  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 within one thousand feet of any school campus and within a school bus.

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

The School Board shall notify all students of the provisions of this policy.

GUIDELINES

The Plaquemines Parish School Board authorizes each school to develop its own student handbook which must include the Plaquemines Parish School Board Dress Code Policy.  The School Board reserves the right to require standards of appropriate dress that are conducive to safety, orderly decorum, and that reflect positively on the school system.  The School Board has adopted a dress code policy that shall be universal throughout the parish.  These policies will be enforced from bus stop to school and from school to bus stop and/or at any time students are under school jurisdiction.  Students must wear school uniforms as specified by the Plaquemines Parish School Board, and their individual schools as indicated in the school’s student handbook.  The School Board’s dress code rules are as follows:

1.  Any clothing, adornment, accessory, or jewelry that displays or symbolizes obscenity, vulgarity, and/or indecency, and/or that advocates violence, drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco is prohibited.
   
   

2. Moderate hairstyles only are permitted.  Boys’ hair may not extend lower that the top of a dress shirt collar.  Hair cannot be worn to fall below the eyebrow line.  Hair may not be worn/styled in a manner that circumvents dress code standards governing hair.
   
   

3. Any style of hair which creates a distraction or a safety hazard shall be considered inappropriate.  Fluorescent-colored hair (yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, pink, red or any other distracting color) is prohibited.
   
   

4. Eyebrows that are shaved to create a decorative design or distraction is prohibited.
   
   

5. Boys must be clean-shaven.  Beards or goatees are not permitted.  Mustaches are permitted, provided they are neatly trimmed and do not extend beyond the corners of the mouth.  Side burns that are excessive are not allowed.
   
   

6. Boys are not permitted to wear dangling or hoop earrings; however, boys will be allowed to wear one stud per ear.  Additionally, girls will be allowed to wear only one earring per ear.  Girls’ hoops are not to exceed one (1) inch.  Oversized stud earrings are not permitted.  For boys and girls, earrings are to be worn in the ear lobes only.  Gauges and other devices that are worn in the ear lobe to stretch the lobe or make the pierced ear hole bigger are prohibited.
   
   

7. Any additional visible/noticeable body piercing is prohibited.  Body rings and/or studs must be removed.
   
   

8. All visible tattoos must be covered.
   
   

9. Jewelry or clothing that can be hazardous to students or any other persons is prohibited.  Pocket chains and (dog-type) collar chains will not be allowed.  Any oversized jewelry or adornments are prohibited.
   
   

10. Fingernails in excess of ½ inch (curling under) will not be allowed.
    
    

11. Students may not deface their uniform.
    
    

12. No over-sized or undersized clothing is permitted.  Clothing must be properly sized.
    
    

13. Undershirts must be white or a school color.  All students must wear appropriate undergarments.
    
    

14. All shirts must be tucked in completely around at the waist of the uniform bottom.
    
    

15. Uniform shorts or skirts must be worn at the knee for grades 5-12.  Mini-skirts are prohibited.  “Peanut” shorts with 3” zippers are not allowed.
    
    

16. Uniform pants are to have the traditional khaki pant leg.  No bell-bottoms, wide leg, or other non-traditional leg shapes are allowed.  Slit or frayed pant legs are not allowed.  The rolling up of pant legs is prohibited.  Hip huggers and “peanut” pants with 3” zippers are not allowed.
    
    

17. Pants, shorts and /or other uniform bottoms with multiple pockets such as cargo-pockets, cell-phone pockets, and/or non-traditional pockets are not allowed.
    
    

18. All pants, shorts and other uniform bottoms are to be worn at the waist.  A belt must be worn at the waist with all uniform bottoms.
    
    

19. Only a standard black, brown, or khaki-colored belt may be worn -- this is a belt that fits in the belt loops of the standard khaki uniform pants.  Belts with large holes in them and/or hanging ornaments on them are prohibited.  A school may adopt a solid-color belt of one of the school colors that has been approved by the school administrator.
    
    

20. Oversized belt buckles are prohibited.  Belt buckles with any type of writing, pictures, or symbols on them are not allowed.
    
    

21. Sweatshirts and lightweight jackets must comply with the individual school’s approved uniform code as stipulated in the school handbook.
    
    

22. It will be MANDATORY for students to wear a school uniform jacket.  Each school will adopt school uniform jackets and give advance notice to parents.
    
    

23. Socks/hosiery and clean shoes must be worn daily.  Socks/stockings (no leggings) can be white, black, or school color.  Shoes or tennis shoes that are closed in must be worn.  Shoes such as flip-flops, slides, clogs, moccasins, slippers, Crocs, or shoes with no ankle straps are prohibited.  All string shoes must be properly laced and tied. Velcro flaps must be properly strapped.
    
    

24. Caps, hats, sweat bands, hoods, scarves, kerchiefs, bandanas, and other head coverings are prohibited.  Girls may wear head bands, barrettes, or ribbons to hold back the hair, but excessive adornment is prohibited.
    
    

25. Hoods as part of an approved school uniform are not allowed to be worn pulled up on the head in the building.
    
    

26. Any garment, hair style, adornment, jewelry, or appearance considered inappropriate by the administration will be prohibited.

SPECIAL DRESS DAYS:

Dress plans for any special day that students would not wear school uniforms needs to be submitted in writing for the superintendent’s approval prior to finalizing such plans.

If a school allows dress days such as “Spirit Days”, the following rules would apply:

27. Leggings, stirrup pants and Capri pants are not allowed.
    
    

28. Shorts and skirts must be worn at the knee for grades 5-12.
    
    

29. Trench coats, dusters, and/or other long coats are not allowed.
    
    

30. Clothing or adornment which is hazardous to the safety of the students is unacceptable.  Sweat bands, and bandanas are prohibited.
    
    

31. Pajama Day and cross-dressing are not allowed.
    
    

32. Clothing and any other items worn or displayed by students must not contain or symbolize obscenity, vulgarity, and /or indecency; and must not advocate or advertise/violence and/or alcohol, tobacco, an/or drug use.

• • Tear-away pants, fringed pants, or torn pants are prohibited.
    
    

  • Clothing that exposes the back, chest or midriff shall not be worn.
    
    

  • Overalls with a short sleeveless shirt or any style sleeveless shirt will not be allowed.
    
    

  • No sweat suits, wind suits or jogging suits are to be worn.

33. Any garment, hairstyle, adornment, jewelry, or appearance considered inappropriate by the administration will be prohibited.

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.

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.9, 17:81, 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, 7-9-07, 3-14-11, 5-11-11, 8-4-14, 7-11-16

Plaquemines Parish School Board