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As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken.  Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.

DISD Updates Student Dress Code

19 Jul 2001

DISD Updates Student Dress Code To be In Force Starting August 15

The Dallas Independent School District Board of Education recently approved revisions in the Student Dress Code for the 2001-2002 school year. The dress code is fashioned to teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline and minimize distractions.

Updates to the dress code include:

• Shirts must be worn inside slacks with belts at all times by all students unless the shirts are designed to be worn outside of the slacks or the pants are designed to be worn without a belt.

• Sweat bands and skulls caps and other similar grooming items shall not be worn at school.

• Visible body piercing is not allowed, including piercing of the tongue, while on school campus or at school-sponsored activities.

• Footwear that constitutes a safety hazard, including steel-toed boots or shoes cannot be worn.

• Leggings, biker pants, or pants allowed to sag below the waistline are not acceptable. "The dress code will be enforced consistently throughout the district, said General Superintendent Mike Moses. "These basic guidelines on student grooming will minimize distractions in the classroom, creating an environment conducive to learning. In addition, setting higher standards raises the bar for our students and prepares them for societal expectations beyond their Dallas Independent School District education experience." A citywide educational campaign to gain parental support for the district's efforts is planned for throughout the summer and before back-to-school shopping begins to allow parents and students the opportunity to purchase clothing which meets district guidelines.

In addition, each district school with the support of the Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) committee may establish its own dress code, which must incorporate and not be in conflict with the district's dress and grooming standards. As a part of these codes, individual schools may designate a uniform for students to wear on a voluntary basis.

The following is a general glimpse at the district's dress code that incorporates revisions with the existing guidelines in which students must adhere for the upcoming school year.

• All students are expected to exemplify proper grooming standards in a manner that projects an appropriate image for the student, school and District.

• Students shall keep their hair, beards and mustaches neatly groomed.

• Male students should not wear earrings.

• All students should wear appropriate footwear. Students cannot wear house slippers, flip flops, steel toed boots/shoes or any footwear that is a safety hazard.

• The length of dresses, skirts and shorts should be no shorter than "fingertip length" with arms in normal position.

• Students may not wear clothing that is either revealing or provocative. T-shirts and tattoos may not have printed statements or pictures that are vulgar or obscene or related to the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, sex or that promote hate or violence.

• Students are prohibited from wearing attire that may be considered weapons, such as chain belts, wallet chain or other similar attire.

• Students should not wear on the outside of their clothing any jewelry or similar artifacts that are either obscene, distracting or may cause disruptions to the educational environment.

• All gang-identifying clothing or similar attire is prohibited.

• Hats, caps, bandanas, hair rollers, hair curlers, plastic hair bags, hair nets, sweat bands and skull caps and other similar grooming items shall not be worn at school.

• Administrators have the discretion to determine the appropriateness of attire and grooming.

Consequences for violating the dress code

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When a student violates the dress code, he/she will be assigned to in-school suspension for the remainder of the day or until a parent brings an acceptable change of clothing. Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary actions. Appropriate discipline procedures will be followed in all cases in accordance with the student handbook and Student Code of Conduct.

Be cool for school, stay within the dress code rules

Under the DISD's simple guidelines for 2001-02 school year, it's easy for students to be cool for school if they stay within the dress code rules.