FILE:  JCDB

STUDENT DRESS CODE

Students shall be expected to maintain a neat, well-groomed appearance at school.  Student dress and grooming shall not adversely affect the students' participation in classes, school programs, other school-related activities, or detract from the learning environment of the school.  No article of clothing shall be bizarre in style, unsuitable for school activities, nor of a nature to call undue attention to the wearer.  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.  Guidelines regarding dress and grooming stress the importance of reducing distractions that inhibit learning and are addressed as an attempt to enhance the learning environment.  Students who fail to comply with this dress code may be subject to disciplinary action or other appropriate intervention.  Matters concerning student dress and appearance not specifically covered in uniform policy shall be within the discretion of administrators.

NOTIFICATION

The School Board shall notify the parent or guardian of each student of the dress code specifications and their effective date.  The dress code shall be distributed in written form or posted on the school’s website annually.

If the School Board adopts a uniform policy or modifies the 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.

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.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. The Catahoula Parish School Board expects all students in the parish to take personal pride in themselves by keeping their bodies properly clothed and garments clean and free of body odor.  School personnel are required to promptly report violations of these requirements to administrators.
   
   

2. Students should wear all conventional accessories from the skin out (underwear, bras, slips, shoes).
   
   

3. No caps/hats are to be worn inside the school building during school hours.

GRADES K-8

1. Tank tops are not to be worn.
   
   

2. Sun dresses and bare midriffs are not allowed.
   
   

3. Long or walking shorts and skirts are acceptable if they are within two inches (2") above the top of the knee.
   
   

4. No spandex or elastic garments are acceptable.
   
   

5. Stretch pants, leotards, leggings, or other tight fitting pants can only be worn with a "top" or overblouse which comes within two inches (2") of the top of the kneecap.
   
   

6. Girls may wear sleeveless garments, only if the garment fits around the arms and is not loose.
   
   

7. No earrings shall be worn by males.
   
   

8. "Sagging" garments are not to be worn at school or by any student participating in a school-sponsored event.
   
   

9. Footwear must be worn in school facilities and on school grounds.
   
   

10. Tank tops, undershirts, halters, midriff tops, see-through tops, sleeveless shirts (boys) are not acceptable as outer garments by themselves.
    
    

11. All students must remain fully clothed while participating in school and school-related activities.
    
    

12. Clothes with degrading, profane, abusive, questionable markings, or advertising of alcohol, tobacco, and drug products are prohibited.
    
    

13. No hats, scarves, hair rollers, etc. are allowed inside school buildings during school hours.
    
    

14. No sunglasses are to be worn indoors unless under doctor's orders.
    
    

15. No cigarettes or tobacco products are allowed on campus.

Students in violation of this dress code shall be promptly reported to administrators who shall take responsive action to address the violation.  Students improperly dressed will be sent home to change on the first offense.  Any offense thereafter shall be considered misconduct subject to disciplinary action, including suspension.

GRADES 9-12 (8-12 Block High School and excluding Sicily Island schools)

Grooming

1. Hair must be clean and neatly groomed.
   
   

2. Hair rollers, pin curls, or extreme hair styles are inappropriate and shall not be allowed.

Dress

1. Student dress, jewelry, personal appearance and conduct are required to be of such character as not to disrupt or distract from the orderly educational process of the school.  Any style or appearance which tends to diminish instructional effectiveness or the discipline control by teachers is not acceptable.
   
   

2. Tank tops are not to be worn.
   
   

3. Sun dresses and bare midriffs are not allowed.
   
   

4. No spandex or elastic garments are acceptable.
   
   

5. The length of dresses, skirts, and split skirts should come within two inches of the top of the kneecap in a standing position.
   
   

6. Stretch pants, leotards, leggings, or other tight fitting pants can only be worn with a "top" or overblouse which comes within two inches (2") of the top of the kneecap.
   
   

7. Girls may wear sleeveless garments only if the garment fits around the arms and is not loose.
   
   

8. No earrings shall be worn by male students.
   
   

9. "Sagging" garments are not to be worn at school or by any student participating in a school-sponsored event.
   
   

10. Footwear must be worn in school facilities and on school grounds.
    
    

11. All students must remain fully dressed while participating in school and school-related activities.
    
    

12. Tank tops, undershirts, halters, midriff tops, see-through tops, sleeveless shirts (boys) are not acceptable as outer garments by themselves.
    
    

13. Proper undergarments must be worn.
    
    

14. Clothes with degrading, profane, abusive, questionable markings, or advertising of alcohol, tobacco, and drug products are prohibited.
    
    

15. No hats, scarves, hair rollers, etc. are allowed inside school buildings during school hours.
    
    

16. No excessively tight clothing is allowed.
    
    

17. No sunglasses are to be worn indoors unless under doctor's orders.
    
    

18. No cigarettes or tobacco products are allowed on campus.

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

Students in violation of this dress code shall be promptly reported to administrators who shall take responsive action to address the violation.  Students improperly dressed will be sent home to change on the first offense.  Any offense thereafter shall be considered misconduct subject to disciplinary action, including suspension.

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.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

The School Board may require students to wear uniforms to school as designated.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.9, 17:81, 17:416.7

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

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

Board minutes 4-30-92, 8-3-93, 8-2-94, 1-6-09, 10-4-11, 9-4-12, 2-5-13, 12-3-13, 10-6-15, 8-7-18

Catahoula Parish School Board