All students are expected to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to dress in a manner suitable for learning when attending school and school functions. Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and all other District personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting. Please refer to your school’s handbook for more information on attire that is not acceptable/permitted.

A student’s dress, grooming and appearance, including hairstyle/color, jewelry, make-up and nails, shall:

• Be safe, appropriate and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.
• Recognize that extremely brief garments such as plunging necklines (front and/or back), micro-minis, short shorts, bare midriffs, and see-through or otherwise revealing garments are not appropriate.
• Ensure that underwear is completely covered with outer clothing.
• Footwear must be worn in the building on school campus and at school events at all times.
• Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, and libelous or denigrate others on account of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex
• Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.
• Not include jewelry that can be dangerous such as spiked bracelets or neck collars.
• Not disrupt the educational process, as determined by the Building Principal or his/her designee.

Each building Principal or his/her designee shall be responsible for informing all students and their parents of the student dress code at the beginning of the school year and any revisions to the dress code made during the school year.  The determination of whether or not a garment is appropriate for school is in the discretion of building administration.

Students who violate the student dress code shall be required to modify their appearance by covering or removing the offending items and, if necessary or practical, replacing it with an acceptable item. Any student who refuses to do so shall be subject to discipline. Any student who repeatedly fails to comply with the dress code shall be subject to further discipline.

The Board of Education of the Irvington Union Free School District believes that the primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents or guardians.  Student attire must not interfere with the health and safety of any student, and it must not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student or have the effect of substantially disrupting  school activities. This policy is intended to provide guidance to students, parents and staff. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• All clothing must have straps and fabric in the front, back and on the sides.
• Clothing must cover undergarments (waistbands and bra straps excluded).
• See-through garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code.
• Headwear such as hats, hoodies and caps are not permitted unless for a religious or medical purpose and must allow the face to be visible and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff.
• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including but not limited to physical education, science labs, PLTW, art,  and other activities where unique hazards exist.
• Shoes must be worn at all times.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Clothing may not depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
• Clothing may not depict violent language or images of firearms, profanity, pornography, nudity or sexual acts.
• Clothing may not use or depict hate speech, or images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment by  targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, weight, or any other protected groups.
• Clothing, including gang identifiers, must not threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff.

DISCIPLINE RELATED TO DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

• Administrative personnel have the authority to require a student to change their attire if it violates this dress code.  Students who do not adhere to these guidelines will not be allowed to attend class. Parents will be called if appropriate clothing is not available or the student refuses dress-code appropriate clothing.