Dress Code

MDIHS Dress Code

Developed by MDIHS Administration, the Student Advisory Board, and the MDI Civil Rights Team


“The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents/guardians.

The school is responsible for ensuring that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student and that student attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student."


Values

  • All students should be able to dress comfortably for school without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming

  • All students and staff should understand that they are responsible for managing their personal “distractions” without regulating individual students’ clothing or expression.

  • Teachers can focus on teaching without the additional and often uncomfortable burden of dress code enforcement

  • Students should not face unnecessary barriers to school attendance.

  • Reasons for conflict and inconsistent discipline should be minimized whenever possible


Basic Principle

Certain body parts must be covered for all students

  • Clothes must be worn in such a way that genitals, buttocks, and nipples are covered with opaque material


Students must wear...

  • Shirt

  • Bottom

  • Shoes


Students may wear…

  • Hats (including religious head coverings)

  • Hoodie sweatshirts (with the hood over the head, if they prefer)

  • Fitted pants (leggings, yoga, “skinny” jeans)

  • Midriff bearing shirts

  • Pajamas or sweatpants

  • Ripped jeans (as long as undergarments, genitals, buttocks are not exposed)

  • Tank tops (including spaghetti straps, halter tops, and tube tops)

  • Athletic attire


Students cannot wear…

  • Clothing with violent language or images

  • Images or language depicting or promoting the use of drugs, alcohol, or any illegal activity

  • Clothing with images or language promoting hate speech (speech that is intentionally phrased to demean, devalue, harass others based on sexual orientation, gender expression, race, or religion), profanity, or pornography

  • Clothing with images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class. Protected classes include race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation (which includes gender identity and expression), physical or mental disability, religion, age, and other categories in certain contexts.

  • Clothing with images or language that promotes a recognized hate group or gang

  • Visible underwear, this does not include a waistband or straps on an undergarment

  • Bathing suits

  • Helmet or headgear that would obscure the face (exceptions for religious or medical reasons) Sunglasses may be worn for medical reasons.


Adopted: September 2020