Dress Codes

1
Dress Codes Uniform Policies

• Tyree N. Clark
• Policy Planning and Development in Education
• EACS 6223
• December 3, 2003

2
Why Uniform Policy?

• Naval Uniform History
• Historically, uniforms have been the product of a
  sailor's environment physical, geographical and
  technical.
• Uniforms were provided for protection against the
  elements or to create distinction among
  specialists in a growing Navy.
• Foremost, however, was an element of simplicity
  providing a uniform that would not interfere with
  the Sailor's everyday tasks.

3
Literature Review

• Anderson, W. (2002). School Dress Codes and
  Uniform Policies. Washington, DC Office of
  Educational Research and Improvement. (ERIC
  Document Reproductions Service No. ED 471 528).
• DeMitchell, T.A. Pants and Hats Dress Codes
  and Expressive Conduct as Speech. International
  Journal of Educational Reform, (1999) 8, 413-18.
• DeMitchell, T.A., Fossey, R. Cobb, C. Dress
  Codes in the Public Schools Principals,
  Policies and Precepts. Journal of Law
  Education, (January 2000) 29, 31. Retrieved
  November 17, 2003 from the LexisNexis Academic
  Web site http//web.lexis-nexis.com.

4
Literature Review

• Moore Public School Board. (2003-2004). Moore
  Public School Handbook. Moore, OK. Retrieved
  from http//www.moore.k12.ok.us/site/for_parents_r
  ules.html
• Littlefield v. Forney ISD, U.S. 5th Circuit
  Court. (September 26, 2001). Retrieved November
  17, 2003 from the FindLaw for Legal Professionals
  Web site http//laws.lp.findlaw.com.
• Pate, S.S. (1999). The Influence of a Mandatory
  School Uniform Policy. Illinois State
  University, Department of Family and Consumer
  Sciences. (ERIC Document Reproductions Service
  No. ED 458 695).

5
Literature Review

• Starr, J. School Violence and Its Effect on the
  Constitutionality of Public School Uniform
  Policies. Journal of Law Education, (January
  2000) 29, 113. Retrieved November 17, 2003 from
  the LexisNexis Academic Web site
  http//web.lexis-nexis.com.
• Swain, J. The Right Stuff fashioning an
  identity through clothing in a junior school.
  Gender and Education, (2002) 14, 53-69.
• Weisenberger, C. Constitution or Conformity
  When the Shirt Hits the Fan in Public Schools.
  Journal of Law Education, (January 2000) 29,
  51. Retrieved November 17, 2003 from the
  LexisNexis Academic Web site http//web.lexis-ne
  xis.com.

6
Literature Review

• Difference between dress codes and uniform
  policies
• Dress codes impose restrictions on certain attire
• Uniform policies mandate that certain attire be
  worn

7
Literature Review

• Reasons for dress codes and uniform policies
• School safety
• Good order and discipline academic focus
• Student self esteem
• Less family stress

8
Literature Review

• Reasons against dress codes and uniform policies
• No solution to the significant problems in
  schools
• Deprive students of their freedoms

9
Literature Review

• Summary of research
• Gang related clothing can lead to violence
• Designer and team clothing can lead to violence
  and theft
• Empirical data cannot conclusively suggest that
  uniforms and/or dress codes result in decreased
  violence
• No direct effect on substance use, behavioral
  problems or attendance

10
Literature Review

• Summary of research
• Academic improvement in elementary schools, while
  no significant decrease in discipline problems in
  middle schools
• According to principals, uniform policies have a
  positive effect in the areas of
• Community image
• Classroom discipline
• Peer pressure
• School spirit
• Focus on academics
• School safety

11
Literature Review

• Summary of research
• Another study of principals found
• Rural principals indicated stronger support for
  dress codes than their suburban and urban
  counterparts
• Urban principals indicated stronger support for
  uniforms than their suburban and rural
  counterparts
• Middle School principals indicated the strongest
  support for uniforms
• High School principals indicated the strongest
  support for dress codes

12
Literature Review

• Summary of research
• According to parents, uniforms
• Improve academic performance
• Promote equality between the sexes
• According to guidance counselors, uniforms
• Help prepare students for eventual work
  environment
• Create a safer learning environment

13
Literature Review

• Research conclusion
• More studies are needed to assess the
  effectiveness of uniform policies and dress codes
  in public schools
• Decreases in school violence and improvements in
  academic achievement cannot solely be attributed
  to uniform policies and dress codes

14
Literature Review

• U.S. Supreme Court Case law
• Tinker v. Des Moines
• Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser
• Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

15
Literature Review

• Lower Courts Case law
• Message T-shirts
• Littlefield v. Forney ISD (5th Circuit, 1996)
• Phoenix Elementary School District v. Green (AZ
  Court of Appeals, 1997)
• Canady v. Bossier Parish School Board (5th
  Circuit, 2001)

16
Policy Options

• No dress code or uniform policy
• Standard dress code
• Standard uniform policy
• Professional uniform policy

17
1st Alternative

• No dress code or uniform policy
• Pros
• Students freedom of expression/speech
• No administrative burdens
• Easy to maintain the nonexistence of policy
• Cons
• Possible student self esteem issues
• Possible lack of focus on academics
• Possible increase in violence/theft
• Possible issues of students offending other
  students and/or teachers
• Etc

18
2nd Alternative

• Standard dress code
• Pros
• Students maintain certain freedom of
  expression/speech
• Minimal administrative burdens
• Relatively easy to maintain
• Most prevalent in schools today status quo
• Cons
• Similar to 1st Alternative with less likelihood
  of stated events occurring
• Most case law stems from challenges to the
  standard dress code restrictions

19
3rd Alternative

• Standard uniform policy
• Pros
• Probable increased focus on academics
• Probable increase in student self esteem / school
  spirit
• Probable decrease in school violence/theft
• Relatively stress free for families
• Relatively easy to maintain standards of policy
• Second most prevalent in schools today status
  quo
• Cons
• Cost / logistics
• Significant decrease in students freedom of
  expression/speech through attire

20
4th Alternative

• Professional uniform policy
• Pros
• Probable increased focus on academics
• Probable increase in student self esteem / school
  spirit
• Probable decrease in school violence/theft
• Stress free for families
• Easy to maintain standards of policy
• A step most schools have chosen not to take -
  innovative
• Cons
• Cost / logistics
• Significant decrease in students freedom of
  expression/speech through attire

21
Professional Uniform Policy Example

• Long Beach Unified School District
• Elevates standards of excellence for all students
  not only in dress, but also in conduct and
  achievement.
• Require no expenditure of taxpayer funds or
  education dollars, yet have a significant impact
  on quality of education and savings to most
  parents.
• Rate of student absence decreases allowing for
  more instructional time.
• Help to level the playing field between students
  of different socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Represent school spirit and reduces polarization
  of students.

22
Mandatory Uniform Policy

• Implemented initially in urban elementary and
  middle schools
• Uniform policy would assist in establishing a
  professional learning community for students
• High schools would receive students as a product
  of professional K-8 schools maintain standards,
  while allowing students choice of attire

23
Implementation Strategy

• Foundation
• Previous success in large urban K-8 school
  districts across the country
• Will is identified by a large percentage of
  families openly supporting mandatory uniform
  policies
• Capacity is present as evidenced by states
  passing legislation allowing for districts to
  establish uniform policies and case law upholding
  constitutionality of those policies
• Understanding that uniform policy must be one
  component of school reform

24
Implementation Strategy

• Mobilization
• Do we need the policy?
• Issues exist within the school district that can
  be partially dealt with by instituting a uniform
  policy.
• Is it appropriate?
• Research suggests that uniform policies are most
  successful in urban elementary and middle
  schools.
• Do we have stakeholder support?
• District efforts to inform and receive feedback
  from the community should be numerous (Mailings,
  newsletters, websites, emails, registration
  material, etc.)
• Do we have the resources?
• Community resources for those families most
  affected by the change in policy.

25
Implementation Strategy

• Planning
• Large steering committee would be required to
  garner support and establish resources.
• Allow enough time for families to adjust to the
  policy (purchase uniforms, alter, etc.)
• Consider pilot program in small number of schools
  for a period of time to apply lessons learned.

26
Implementation Strategy

• Monitoring and Feedback
• Maintain flexibility in the established policy to
  allow for positive improvements.
• Establish incentives for compliance and
  discipline for noncompliance.
• Friday casual day, last week of school free
  dress, etc.
• Detention, in-school suspension, etc.
• Keep the school community informed about the
  progress of the policy implementation.
• Take the time to be successful be patient.

27
Implementation Strategy

• Best practice examples
• 8th graders asked to donate uniforms
• Can be cleaned and altered for other students
• Private organizations establish a foundation to
  issue uniforms to those with financial hardship
• PTA establish a program of loaning uniform items
• Unable to clean, lost items, etc.

28
Implementation Strategy

• Best practice examples
• Opt out provision
• Typically a small percentage of families request
  for religious reasons
• If proper environment is established, no opt out
  provision required, especially in this era of
  school choice

29
Policy Evaluation

• What is it that we hope to see from instituting a
  uniform policy?
• Decrease in school violence
• Increase in academic achievement
• Increase in student self esteem
• Increase in student effort and motivation toward
  education
• Simplicity for families
• What are the vehicles used to measure success?
• Attendance
• Crime statistics
• Morale
• Teacher feedback on student performance
• Student feedback
• Parent feedback

30
Questions?