PROPER CLOTHING AND DRESS CODE
Although each student’s dress and grooming are generally personal matters of choice for the student and the student’s parents/guardians, dress and grooming while at Brookside Charter School must conform to the following guidelines:
- A student’s grooming and dress must contribute to and support a school environment conducive to instruction, learning, and good citizenship.
- A student should be clean and neat in his or her personal dress and grooming.
- A student’s clothing must properly cover the private parts of the body.
- A student’s dress and grooming must not distract the student or others from learning or otherwise disrupt the educational process or create a risk to students’ health or safety.
- Shirts, blouses, and other tops must cover the waistband of pants, skirts, shorts, or other bottom attire.
- Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be below the fingertips when arms are held straight down at the sides.
- Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. Clothing that is transparent or see-through, or clothing that reveals any private part of the body, is prohibited.
- Caps, bandanas, hats, and sunglasses may not be worn inside the building during regular school hours. Girls are allowed to wear headbands or bandanas. They can be worn over the head completely, or just across the circumference of the head like a headband. Boys are not allowed to wear headbands.
- Hoodies/Light or Heavy Jackets: No hoodies up over the head.
- Shoes that do not adequately cover the foot from toe to heel or in their construction may allow for possible injury (e.g., flip-flops or open-toed sandals) are not permitted.
- Clothing or other articles that present a safety concern (e.g., chains, spikes, dangerous jewelry, safety pins, etc.) are prohibited.
- Clothing or jewelry that displays obscene, vulgar, or pornographic words or images, as well as those that advertise or promote illegal uses of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products or acts of violence, is prohibited.
- Coats, backpacks, purses, and bags are not to be taken to class by middle school students. They are to be stored in lockers before the bell for first-hour sounds. Elementary students may not bring purses to school, but may store coats and backpacks on their hooks.
- Made of spandex or similar fitted material and worn in such a matter as to allow inappropriate expose (A shirt or a dress will need to cover the leggings and be below the fingertips when arms are held straight down at the sides)
Examples of school attire that is NOT PERMISSIBLE include:
Tops/Shirts in any of the following categories:
- Tube
- Mesh
- Halter
- Low-cut
- Backless
- Spaghetti straps (straps should be at least 3 fingers wide at the narrowest point)
- Half-shirts/cropped-tops/short enough to expose the midriff during standard school activity
- Muscle shirts
- Transparent, ripped, or torn allowing inappropriate exposure (Holes in pants should be below the fingertips when arms are held straight down at the sides).
Bottoms in any of the following categories:
- Transparent, promoting inappropriate exposure of undergarments
- Too short – shorts, skirts, and dresses must be below the fingertips when arms are held straight down at the sides
- Made of spandex or similar fitted material and worn in such a matter as to allow inappropriate exposure (A shirt or a dress will need to cover the leggings and be below the fingertips when arms are held straight down at the sides)
- Underwear worn as outer garments
- Worn low as to expose undergarments (Sagging – i.e., pants falling below waist, potentially revealing undergarments – is not permitted.)
- Sleepwear
- Transparent, ripped, or torn allowing inappropriate exposure.
Exceptions
School administrators may allow exception in special circumstances including, but not limited to, medical or religious needs, holidays, or special performances. Further, school administrators may further prescribe dress in certain classes such as physical education and science labs.
Dress Code Violations
The school may restrict any student from attending classes or school activities when that student’s dress, general appearance and/or conduct creates safety, health and/or discipline problems. Students found in violation of the approved dress code will also be subject to disciplinary action.