Chester County Schools

Standard Dress Code

Grades 4-12 beginning in the 2009-2010 School Year

Presently

The Tennessee State Board of Education suggests that the criteria for a standard dress policy adopted by local boards of education should require standard dress clothing to be:

• Simple

• Appropriate

• Readily available

• Inexpensive

Chester County School Board Policy # 6.310 states the following: “Students shall dress and groom in a clean, neat, and modest manner so as not to distract or interfere with the operation of the school.”

Rationale for Change

The Chester County School System has the responsibility to enhance the educational focus, provide a safe and secure school, and establish an orderly learning environment. It is also our belief that by teaching students a proper and professional standard of dress it will aid our students in having a greater opportunity for success upon exiting our schools as well as having a positive effect upon the student’s self esteem. In addition, standard dress will enable school personnel to easily recognize outside intruders and deter gang affiliation and activity. Changing fads and trends put increasing pressure on parents, students, and staff as well as deter from the educational mission of the schools.

The Manual on School Uniforms published by the U.S. Department of Education states the following as potential benefits of standard dress.

Promoting school safety

• Easily identify intruders in school

• Decrease violence and theft

• Minimize overt symbols of gang activity

Improving discipline

A standard dress policy alone will not solve all the problems of school discipline, but it can be one positive contributing factor to discipline and safety.

(TN State Board of Education-Uniform Clothing for Public School Students #4.203)

Enhancing the learning environment

• Help students concentrate on their work

• Instill a sense of school spirit, social pride, and social acceptance

• Aid students in resisting peer pressure

• Test scores increase due to students being more focused

• Reduce classroom distractions

STANDARD DRESS FOR CHESTER COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Shirts – Only polo-type shirts (no zippers), button-front shirts, and turtlenecks will be permitted. Only the top button may be unbuttoned.

1) Must have a collar.

2) Must be a solid color.

3) Must be the appropriate size.

4) May be long or short sleeve.

5) Must not have any writing or pictures unless it is the school approved name (for example "Chester County High School, Chester County Eagles, CCHS, CCJHS, etc).

6) Must be tucked in and remain tucked in at all times.

7) There are to be no logos on the shirt other than the official school approved mascot/logo.

8) Only white tee shirts may be worn underneath the approved golf or button-front shirt.

Sweatshirts/Sweaters must be solid color. Solid color sweaters with v-necks, crew necks, cardigans or vests may be worn, but must be worn over the approved shirts. No brand names or wordings are allowed.

1) There are to be no logos on the sweater or sweatshirt.

2) Sweaters, sweatshirts, and vests should hang at the waist/belt line.

3) Hooded sweatshirts/sweaters of any kind may not be worn.

4) Sweaters or sweatshirts are not to be tied over the shoulders or around the waist.

Pants – Only khaki, navy blue, or black twill pants (hemmed or cuffed) of cotton or cotton/polyester blend will be permitted.

1) Pants must be worn and fitted at the waist line.

2) Low slung, baggy seat, baggy legged, or bell-bottom pants are not permitted.

3) Walking shorts in approved colors may be worn. They must be no shorter than 6 inches above the knee. Sports/athletic shorts are not allowed in the halls or classrooms

4) No jeans/denim or jean-type pants.

5) No embellishments on the pants. (Examples: lace, metal studs, logo, chains, etc.)

6) Cargo pants, carpenter pants, or overalls are not permitted.

7) Pant legs can not be rolled up exposing the leg.

8) There are to be no holes, rips, or tears.

Belts must be worn through the belt loops and buckled. The belt buckle must be a plain (not over-sized) buckle. The belt must be brown or black, and not have any writing or logos.

Skirts/dresses – All skirts must be solid, khaki, navy blue, or black and be a twill cotton or cotton/polyester blend.

1) Skirts must go to the knee.

2) There must be no slits in skirts above the knee.

3) All dresses that are worn must be solid khaki, navy blue, or black and go to the knee.

Jewelry/Body Piercings/Tattoos

Jewelry must not be distracting or gang related. Rings are limited to only the ears and hands. All tattoos must be covered.

Footwear

1) Shoes are to be worn at all times.

2) Dress/casual shoes, sandals, boots, or athletic shoes are to be worn and must be properly fastened.

3) Flip flops and house shoes may not to be worn.

Coats/Jackets

1) All outer wear is to be removed and put in the locker or designated area when students enter the school building. Students may wear coats/jackets when traveling between buildings on campus.

2) Coats and jackets must not have drug, alcohol, gang related, gambling, or other such messages or pictures.

Headwear

No headwear is to be worn in the school building.

(Examples: caps, hats, toboggans, scarves, sweatbands, hair rollers, do-rags, etc.)

General

1) Grills, sunglasses, and gloves may not be worn inside the school facility.

2) Sweat pants and jogging/wind suits may not be worn in the classroom.

3) Clothing will be clean, in good repair, fit properly, not contain excessive wrinkles, and be appropriate to the activity at all times.

4) Clothing with holes must be patched on the outside.

5) All clothing must be plain without manufacturer’s logos, brand names, pictures, insignias (other than Chester County Eagles, etc) visible on the clothing.

6) All clothing must be appropriately sized. No oversized pants or shirts will be allowed.

7) Rolling book bags are not allowed unless medically necessary and approved by the principal.

8) The principal may allow clothing that represents school-based organizations on designated days.

9) The principal may deviate from the standard dress code on special days (homecoming, reward days, etc). These days will be publicized in advance.

10) The principal is allowed to grant exemptions to the standard dress code for religious reasons, handicapping conditions, or extraordinary circumstances. These exemptions should be rare, documented, and made known to all staff members. Students granted an exemption must dress in an appropriate manner approved by the principal.

Expectations & Consequences

Students are expected to adhere to the standard dress policy at all times during the regular school day. If a student arrives at school and is not in compliance with the standard dress policy he/she will not be allowed to attend classes

Violations of the Standard Dress Code - Rule 6 of the Code of Behavior and Discipline will be followed with some additional stipulations:

1) 1st Violation - The student will be required to change clothes and a written warning (Notice of Noncompliance) will be mailed and sent home with the student. Students who miss class due to the necessity of changing into clothes that meet the dress code will have until the next day to make up any missed work.

2) 2nd Violation - The student will be required to change clothes, a Notice of Noncompliance will be mailed and sent home with the student, and one day of ISS will be assigned to the student. A parent conference will be requested by the principal or principal's designee to discuss the requirements of the standard dress code. Students who miss work due to the necessity of changing into clothes that meet the dress code will be UNEXCUSED from the missed class time and receive zeros for any work missed.

3) 3rd Violation - The student will be required to change clothes, a Notice of Noncompliance will be mailed and sent home with the student, and two days of ISS will be assigned to the student. A parent conference will be requested by the principal or principal's designee to discuss the requirements of the standard dress code. Students who miss work due to the necessity of changing into clothes that meet the dress code will be UNEXCUSED from the missed class time and receive zeros for any work missed.

4) Additional Violations - Rule 27 of the Code of Behavior and Discipline will apply. The principal will evaluate the situation and recommend a placement in Alternative School or expulsion.

In matters of opinion pertaining to the standard dress policy for the students the judgment of the principal will prevail.

All teachers, principals, and other employees of Chester County School district must carry out the above school board policy and all other policies of the Chester County Board of Education and the State Board of Education.