Dress Code

A. Purpose and Philosophy

Tooele County School District (TCSD) is committed to provide a safe, wholesome, orderly, and positive environment conducive to teaching and learning for all students.  The TCSD Board of Education recognizes that dress and grooming seriously affect the behavior of students attending school and may also impact sanitation, health, and safety conditions. TCSD also recognizes the need for balance between freedom of individual expression and the right to a quality education for all that is free of disruption.

Students shall dress in a manner suitable to the day’s activities consistent with the standards of health, safety, and acceptable behavior.  The student dress and grooming standards shall apply to all schools in the district and to both male and female students.  The dress code also applies to students whether attending school or any school sponsored function or activity (as a participant or member of the audience).

School administrators, faculty and staff are responsible for communication and enforcement of this policy and student dress and grooming standards, as well as, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, in addition to, legal precedence and board policy.  Involvement of stakeholders (i.e. PTA, Community Council, staff, students) in the management of schools is encouraged and can result in expanded thinking, increased ownership, satisfaction, and improved instructional programs and outcomes.  Interpretation of the dress and grooming standards will be under the primary responsibility and discretion of school administrators.  However, all district and school staff members shall have a share of responsibility in seeing that these standards are implemented and enforced fairly and consistently in classrooms, in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, at school activities, and other school sponsored events.  The building principal has the final discretion to implement this policy fairly and consistently (regardless of student gender identification, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc.). Violations of this student dress code may result in reasonable disciplinary action according to District policy.

B.  Student Dress and Grooming Standards

Students’ clothing and jewelry must not present a health or safety hazard or distraction, which would disrupt the educational process or mission.  Disruption is defined as reactions by other individuals to the clothing or adornment, which cause the teacher/administrator to lose the attention of students, to modify or cease instructional activities, or to deal with student confrontations or complaints.

Items that disrupt the educational mission shall not be allowed.  Personal items such as clothing, paraphernalia, jewelry, backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc., shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignias, which are crude, vulgar, profane, violent, or sexually suggestive, or promote illegal/criminal activity.

Items which display advertising, promotions and likeness of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, gang activity or affiliation or drugs or which are contrary to the educational mission, shall not be allowed.

All students shall maintain their hair, mustaches, sideburns, and beards in a clean manner.  Hair styles which disrupt or interfere with the learning atmosphere at the school shall not be allowed.  Hair coloring is not prohibited; rather it should not detract from the purpose of 1) maintaining a safe school environment, and 2) prohibiting dress and grooming that causes actual disruptions to the learning environment or process.

Clothing, jewelry, accessories and piercings which are so conspicuous, extreme, or odd that they draw undue attention, disrupt or tend to disrupt or interfere with the learning atmosphere at the school shall not be allowed. Sunglasses may not be worn indoors at school.

All students shall wear clean clothing.  Students shall not wear clothes that are mutilated, cut off, overly distressed or “grungy/grubbies”, or immodest.  No shorts or skirts above mid-thigh  are permitted unless leggings are worn.  Such leggings may not be see-through.

Clothing must sufficiently cover undergarments at all times (i.e. sagging pants that reveal underwear, tops that reveal bra straps, etc.).   Short shorts, mini skirts, bare midriffs, halter-tops, tube tops, strapless shirts/tops , muscle shirts with enlarged holes, or similar revealing clothing is not permitted.  Clothing must cover the midriff, underwear, and cleavage at all times (even when seated).  This includes clothing that has holes above mid-thigh .  School activity uniforms (i.e. singlets, spanks, cheer skirts, leotards, etc.) that do not meet these criteria are not appropriate for the school day and may only be worn during the approved activity.  Such uniforms may be worn at school under team warm-ups or sweats.

Belts are to be worn at the waist and at correct length (i.e. not excessively long and hanging).  Chains or other large metal accessories, which can present a safety risk, are not allowed.

Students shall comply with the laws that govern wearing of military uniforms and insignias.

Hats or head coverings, including hoodies, are permitted as long as they do not disrupt the learning environment or make it difficult or impossible to identify students.

Immodest or suggestive clothing; apparel advocating illegal or inappropriate or offensive behavior or language; gang or gang–related apparel or symbols are strictly prohibited.

Tattoos and piercings are not specifically prohibited; rather, the policy is established around 1) maintaining a safe school environment, and 2) prohibiting dress and grooming that causes actual disruptions to the learning environment or process.

School officials may require or approve students to wear certain types of clothing for health or safety reasons in connection with certain specialized activities (i.e. welding gloves or jackets, helmets, safety glasses, etc.).

Shoes or sandals shall be worn at all times to ensure personal safety and hygiene.  Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for weather and wear reasonable footwear for the activity and season.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for students whose religious beliefs are substantially affected by dress code requirements.

Students who violate dress and grooming standards will be subject to student discipline.  Due process procedures will be followed in the case of any dress and grooming code violations.  Schools may have acceptable clothing to loan to students who have violated the provisions of this policy.  An offending student may be sent home until he or she reasonably complies with appropriate dress and grooming standards and/or a parent conference conducted to address the dress and grooming issues.