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504 - Student Dress and Appearance

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 appearance that are related to educational goals.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

  1. The policy of the school district is to encourage students to be dressed appropriately for school activities and the learning environment. This is a joint responsibility of the student and the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s).
  2. 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 classroom).
    4. Hair, including but not limited to hair texture and hair styles such as braids, locks, and twists.
  3. Inappropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to, the following:
    1. Clothing bearing a message that is lewd, vulgar, or obscene.
    2. Apparel promoting products or activities that are illegal for use by minors.
    3. 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 Policy 413.
    4. Any apparel or footwear that would damage school property.
  4. The intention of this policy is not 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.
  5. “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

  1. When, in the judgment of the administration, a student’s appearance 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.
  2. The administration may recommend a form of dress considered appropriate for a specific event and communicate the recommendation to students and parents/guardians. A school district or charter school must not prohibit an American Indian student from wearing American Indian regalia, Tribal regalia, or objects of cultural significance at a graduation ceremony.
  3. 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.

Source: Cambridge-Isanti Schools

Legal References:

  • U. S. Const., amend. I
  • Minn. Stat. § 124D.792 (Graduation Ceremonies; Tribal Regalia and Objects of Cultural Significance)
  • Minn. Stat. § 363A.03, Subd. 36a (Definitions)
  • Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
  • B.W.A. v. Farmington R-7 Sch. Dist., 554 F.3d 734 (8th Cir. 2009)
  • Lowry v. Watson Chapel Sch. Dist., 540 F.3d 752 (8th Cir. 2008)
  • Stephenson v. Davenport Cmty. Sch. Dist., 110 F.3d 1303 (8th Cir. 1997)
  • B.H. ex rel. Hawk v. Easton Area School Dist., 725 F.3d 293 (3rd Cir. 2013)
  • D.B. ex rel. Brogdon v. Lafon, 217 Fed. Appx. 518 (6th Cir. 2007)
  • Hardwick v. Heyward, 711 F.3d 426 (4th Cir. 2013)
  • Madrid v. Anthony, 510 F.Supp.2d 425 (S.D. Tex. 2007)
  • McIntire v. Bethel School, Indep. Sch. Dist. No. 3, 804 F.Supp. 1415 (W.D. Okla. 1992)
  • Hicks v. Halifax County Bd. of Educ., 93 F.Supp.2d 649 (E.D. N.C. 1999)
  • Olesen v. Bd. of Educ. of Sch. Dist. No. 228, 676 F.Supp. 820 (N.D. Ill. 1987)

Cross References:

  • Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence)
  • Policy 506 (Student Discipline)
  • Policy 525 (Violence Prevention)

Reviewed: 03-21-02, 02-22-07, 05-22-08, 09-24-09, 07-22-10, 12-15-16, 11-15-18, 04-20-23

Approved: 04-18-02, 02-22-07, 05-22-08, 09-24-09, 07-22-10, 01-19-17, 12-20-18, 05-18-23, 08-24-23

  • 500 - Students

Printable Policy