FILE:  JCDB

 

STUDENT DRESS CODE

 

 

The policy of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be that no mode of attire shall be considered proper for school wear that disrupts the classroom and/or the school's positive learning environment.  In questions regarding student dress and grooming, the principal or his/her designee of each school shall make the final decision as to what is considered proper or improper dress according to the guidelines provided.

 

The School Board's position is that it wants 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.

 

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 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.

 

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.  All students have a responsibility to wear the student ID, where applicable, and to dress and appear on school campuses according to standards of propriety, safety and health set forth by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the School Improvement Team.  Extremes in style and fit in student dress and extremes in style of grooming will not be permitted.  Each School Improvement Team shall suggest and recommend to the principal components of a school dress code.  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 tobacco, drugs, alcohol, illegal substances, or violence or gang related activities or exhibits profane or obscene language/gestures.  Hats or other head apparel such as bandanas and do-rags may not be worn unless for religious, medical, or safety purposes.

 

The School Board shall not exclude a student on account of a natural, protective or cultural hairstyle.  Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle shall include, but is not limited to, afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs, braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural significance.

 

All students shall be required to wear a belt with pants that have loops.  Pants shall be worn at the natural waist level and shall not be excessively baggy nor sagging.

 

All students shall be prohibited from wearing or using mouth grills or any removable mouth jewelry and wearing body piercing jewelry such as eyebrow piercings, nose rings, heavily stretched ear loops, tongue rings, and other similar body piercings, jewelry or facial jewelry.

 

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.

 

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

 

Elementary School

 

Students in grades Pre-K and K-5 grades (6th grade at Northeast Elementary) shall be in compliance with the following uniform policy:

 

  1. Navy blue bottoms – standard uniform pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, and jumpers, not more than 5 inches above the knee (no jeans, biking shorts, stretch pants, Capri pants, cargo pants, sweatpants, windsuits or jogging suits).  Navy corduroy pants are allowed for winter wear.

  2. Burgundy shirts/blouses allowed with a collar - turtlenecks are acceptable in winter (no t-shirts).  Shirts and blouses are to be tucked in.

  3. Only navy blue or burgundy sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets or parkas may be worn inside the building (no hoods) and any existing winter wear may be worn outside of the building.

  4. If a shirt is worn under the uniform shirt, it must not be seen so that the uniform shirt only is visible on campus.

  5. Closed-toed shoes/sneakers (no flip flops or house shoes).

  6. Belts will be worn at the natural waist on bottoms with belt loops, shirts/blouses will be tucked in.

  7. Approved club uniforms (Scouts, 4-H, etc.) may be worn on club meeting days.

 

Middle School

 

Students, 6th through 8th grades (except EBR Readiness Middle, which are included in its Handbook), shall be in compliance with the following uniform policy:

 

  1. Khaki or navy blue bottoms -- may be standard uniform pants, Capri pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, and jumpers, not more than 5 inches above the knee are acceptable subject to individual School Improvement Team guidelines.  Students shall wear only standard khaki or navy blue uniform shorts (NO jeans, biking shorts, stretch pants, sweatpants or cargo pants).

  2. Plain navy blue shirts/blouses with a collar; turtlenecks are acceptable in winter (no t-shirts).

  3. Navy blue or white sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets or parkas may be worn inside the building however any attached hoods may not be worn or used inside any building.

  4. If a shirt is worn under the uniform shirt, it must not be seen so that the uniform shirt only is visible on campus.

  5. Closed-toed shoes/sneakers or strap-on sandals (no flip flops, house shoes, backless shoes or mules).

  6. Belts will be worn at the natural waist on bottoms with belt loops; shirts/blouses will be tucked in.

  7. Approved club uniforms (Scouts, 4-H, etc.) may be worn on club meeting days.

 

High School

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall allow the School Improvement Team at each high school to decide whether their individual high school students shall wear mandatory uniforms.

 

  1. In schools where School Improvement Teams adopt mandatory uniforms, students shall adhere to the regulations adopted by those teams.

 

    1. Belts will be worn at the natural waist on bottoms with belt loops; shirts/blouses will be tucked in.

    2. If a shirt is worn under the uniform shirt, it must not be seen so that the uniform shirt only is visible on campus.

    3. Closed-toed shoes/sneakers or strap-on sandals (no flip flops, house shoes, backless shoes or mules).

    4. Pants, shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers shall not be more than 5” above the knee.

 

  1. Students at high schools that do not have mandatory uniforms shall be in compliance with the following policy:

 

    1. High school students will dress in adherence with School Board dress and grooming policy, as well as dress and grooming code policies adopted by each School Improvement Team.

    2. Belts will be worn at the natural waist on bottoms with belt loops.

    3. Closed-toed shoes/sneakers or strap-on sandals allowed (no flip flops or house shoes).

    4. Shorts and Capri pants are acceptable subject to individual School Improvement Team guidelines.  However, shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers shall not be more than five inches (5”) above the knee.

 

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

 

Noncompliance with any dress and grooming regulations shall be addressed as outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and Discipline Policy.

 

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.

 

Revised:  December, 2008 Revised:  July, 2018
Revised:  November 18, 2010 Revised:  July 22, 2021
Revised:  August 17, 2017 Revised:  October 20, 2022

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.9, 17:81, 17:111, 17:416, 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, 5-28-98, 12-16-99, 5-18-00, 11-18-10, 8-17-17, 7-22-21, 10-20-22

 

East Baton Rouge Parish School Board