5060: Student Dress Code

District Policy 5060                                    

STUDENT DRESS CODE

1.0       Students and their parents/guardians hold the primary responsibility in determining a student’s personal attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items (e.g. backpacks, book bags). Schools are responsible for ensuring that student attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items do not interfere with the health or safety of any student and do not contribute to a hostile or intimidating environment for any student. Students and staff are responsible for managing their own personal distractions and reactions.

2.0       The District believes all students have the right to an equitable education and should be able to dress, and style their hair, for school in a manner that expresses their individuality without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming. Enforcement of this universal dress code shall not create disparities, reinforce stereotypes or increase marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural identity, religious identity, household income, body type/size, or body maturity.

3.0       Mandatory and Allowable Dress.

3.1       Students must wear a top (shirt, blouse, sweater, sweatshirt, tank, etc.), bottom (pants, shorts, skirt, dress, etc.) and footwear while on school premises;

3.2       Some courses may require adjustments to attire and hairstyle to ensure safety during academic activities (i.e. science labs, PE, electives, CTE, etc.); and

3.3       Some courses (PE, science lab, CTE, electives, etc.) and school-sponsored extracurricular activities may require specific attire (safety gear, athletic attire, uniforms, hair tied back, etc.).

4.0       Students may not wear clothing, jewelry, or personal items that:

4.1       Are pornographic, sexually suggestive, contain threats, or promote illegal or violent conduct, such as student use or possession of drugs, tobacco, drug paraphernalia, or weapons.

4.1.1    Display of non-violent U.S. Military symbols or insignias displaying weapons is permitted.

4.2       Promote harassment and/or discrimination of individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or other protected classes;

4.3       Intentionally show private parts (nipples, genitals, buttocks). Clothing must cover private parts in opaque (not able to be seen-through) material;

4.4       Cover the student’s face to the extent that the student is not identifiable (except clothing/headgear worn for a religious or medical purpose);

4.5       Could readily be used as a weapon or might otherwise injure the wearer, including items with spikes or loose hanging chains;

4.6       Demonstrate gang association/affiliation as defined in District Policy 5080; or

4.7       Facilitate the concealment of drugs, weapons, or other contraband.

5.0       Students are prohibited from wearing hoods of sweatshirts or hoodies.

6.0       Attire worn in observance of a student’s religion may qualify for an exception to this policy.

7.0       All middle and high school students are required to carry on their person an unaltered school issued photo identification card (ID) during school hours, or at such times, locations, and activities specifically identified by the building principal; provided however, that the building principal shall have the discretion to impose a stricter requirement regarding student wearing of school issued photo ID cards based upon safety and/or related concerns.

8.0       Uniforms may be required with Superintendent approval.

9.0       For a first offense, students shall not be disciplined as a consequence for wearing attire in violation of this policy unless the attire creates a substantial disruption to the educational environment, poses a hazard to the health or safety of others, or when other contributing policy violations exist. Further, no student shall be referred to as “a distraction” due to their appearance or attire. Typical consequences for a first offense violation of this policy include parent/guardian contact or conference and the directive to cover, change, or remove the non-complying attire. A student may be instructed to leave their classroom briefly to change clothes. The principal or their designee should notify a student’s parent/guardian of the school’s response to violations of the student dress policy. Subsequent violations may be addressed through the Student Code of Conduct.

10.0     The Superintendent authorizes the applicable Executive Directors of Schools to grant written waivers to this policy as appropriate.

LEGAL REFERENCE:
C.R.S. 22-32-109.1

CROSS REFERENCES:
Policy 5000
Policy 5010
Policy 5080

Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Most Recent Adoption: October 1, 2024