Dress Code Policy

Purpose
This districtwide dress code policy provides guidance to school sites in maintaining and supporting a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment.

Basic Principles
All students are to be treated equitably and free from bias regardless of students' gender/gender identification, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, cultural observance, personal style, body size/type or body maturity.

• The student dress code should serve to support all students to develop a body-positive self-image. 
• All students should be able to dress comfortably for school without fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming. 
• Students should be free to dress without feeling responsible for distracting others.
• Students should not face unnecessary barriers to school attendance due to dress code violations.

Students Must Wear

• Bottoms
• Tops
• Footwear
  • No attire can create a hazard to the health or safety of the student or others. Clothing must cover all undergarments and areas that undergarments normally cover. No underwear or undergarments may be visible at any time. However, visible waistbands or straps on undergarments are not a violation. Clothing may not be see-through.
  • Courses or Extracurricular Activities that include attire as part of the curriculum or activity may include assignment-specific dress. Similarly, courses requiring specific clothing for safety, may be enforced.

Students Cannot Wear
Clothing and/or accessories that depicts, advertises or promotes any of the following:

• The use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and/or other illegal activity.
• Violence, profanity, pornography, or intimidating and explicit images and/or language.
• The use of hate speech (targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation,
• gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected group).
• Undergarments and swimwear of similar design worn as outerwear.
• Any clothing and/or accessories that obscure the face, except as a religious observance or
• health/safety-related facial covering.
• Clothing, tattoos and/or accessories that pose a risk to the health or safety of others.

All students are expected to dress and groom appropriately, with an emphasis on modesty, decency, personal and public health. In essence, we dress for success. Students are also expected to maintain a high standard of personal hygiene. Therefore, the following items are not allowed on the Virtual Academy campus.

1. All students are expected to wear appropriate footwear for school. No flip-flops, slippers, or slides.

2. All shirts and tops must cover the midriff at all times. The following are examples of clothing that is unacceptable: strapless, spaghetti straps, off-the-shoulder, cutout designs, low-cut shirts, bare back, sheer or mesh clothing that does not have an appropriate shirt underneath, etc.

3. All pants and shorts must fit at the waist. No sagging or low riding will be permitted. Clothing must cover undergarments when sitting, standing or bending.

4. Hemline, rips, and slits above mid-thigh are not acceptable.

5. Clothing and hair accessories that are unsafe and/or dangerous are not permitted (for example, studded belts, chains, spikes, handcuffs, safety pins, needles, etc.)

6. Clothing or jewelry that depicts any illegal activity, sexually related or obscene gestures and material, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or words, pictures, or phrases that depict violence or intimidation may not be worn.

7. Any body piercing that presents a safety issue or major distraction will not be allowed.

8. Any clothing or styles of dress that may be construed to provoke fear, violence or intimidation is not acceptable.

9. The wearing of religious clothing and/or head covering is expressly permitted.