Dress Code
Lake County Dress Policy
The School Board recognizes that each student's mode of dress and grooming is a manifestation of personal style and individual preference. The Board will not interfere with the right of students and their parents to make decisions regarding their appearance, except when their choices interfere with the educational program of the schools. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to establish a reasonable dress code in order to promote a safe and healthy school setting and enhance the educational environment. The dress code shall be incorporated into the Code of Student Conduct.
Accordingly, the Superintendent shall establish such grooming procedures as are necessary to promote discipline, maintain order, secure the safety of students, and provide a healthy environment conducive to academic purposes. Such procedures shall prohibit student dress or grooming practices which:
- present a hazard to the health or safety of the student himself/herself or to others in the school;
- materially interfere with school work, create disorder, or disrupt the educational program;
- prevent the student from achieving his/her own educational objectives because of blocked vision or restricted movement.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures to implement this policy which:
- requires all students at the alternative school to wear uniforms;
- designates the principal as the enforcer of student dress and grooming in his/her school;
- authorizes each school's SAC to petition, after a vote by the SAC, to the Superintendent or their designee to authorize the use of student uniforms at that school.
Head
- Caps, hats, headgear, visors, sunglasses, bandanas, or other head coverings excluding those worn in observance of their religion, that could block the view of students' faces, contain profanity, cause a disruption, or promote alcohol, contraband, or gang-related activity, shall not be worn while on campus during the school day. However, students may wear hats to include beanies/skull caps, sunglasses, or other sun-protective wear, excluding those described above, while outdoors during school hours, such as when students are at recess or in physical education classes or outdoor class transitions however, these items are not permitted to be worn inside the school building. (F.S. 1001.43(1)(b)).
- Hairstyles or make-up that is extreme and/or disruptive or does not allow direct eye contact is prohibited with the exception of special events approved by the principal.
Upper Garments
- All shirts must cover the midriff and not have spaghetti or thin strips less than three (3) inches. Shirts may not contain any vulgar language or images.
- Students are not allowed to wear sleepwear including onesies, nightgowns, robes, sleep sets, and pajama pants, except for when approved by the principal for a school event. Students are not allowed to wear revealing clothing, that exposes the torso. Examples include, but are not limited to, see-through garments, backless attire, clothing that is unlined sheer or unlined lace, bare midriff clothing that allows any area of the midriff (front or back) to be exposed when sitting, standing, or raising the arm.
Lower Garments
- Clothes shall be worn as they are designed while on the grounds of a public school during the regular school day.
- Clothing must be worn appropriately and properly fastened with no tears/holes that reveal undergarments or skin above the upper thigh (halfway between the crease your hip makes and the mid-thigh). Durable, nontransparent materials including paper, tape or other fabric may be used to cover tears/holes.
- Students are prohibited from wearing clothing that exposes underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupts the orderly learning environment.
- No pants that are oversized or baggy at the waistline are permitted.
- Hemlines for dresses, skorts, skirts, and/or shorts must be no shorter than mid-thigh (a second violation of this policy will result in appropriate disciplinary action). Mid-thigh is defined as while a student is in the standing position, measure halfway from the top of the leg (the crease your hip makes when seated) to the top of the knee.
- Skin-tight recreation clothing (e.g., bike pants, tights, leotards, leggings) may be worn under shorts, dresses, skirts or with a shirt that covers the pelvic area and buttocks.
Footwear
- Safe and appropriate footwear must be worn at all times.
- Students may not wear bedroom slippers, cleated shoes, or shoes with wheels. Students in middle and high school may wear sandals and flip-flops. Elementary students may not wear platforms, high-heeled shoes, or flip-flops.
Accessories
- Facial/Visible piercings that are extreme and/or disruptive are prohibited.
- Chains, other than necklaces considered to be jewelry, shall not be worn. Examples include, but are not limited to, heavy chains generally used for utility purposes, choke collars, chains/accessories that connect one part of the body to another, or accessories containing spikes or other sharp objects that pose a safety concern for the student or others shall be prohibited.
- Jewelry that contains any type of sharp object shall not be worn.
- All students, except those assigned to an alternative school, shall be allowed to carry backpacks.
General
- All middle and high school students shall be required to wear appropriate clothing for physical education as prescribed by the school. A student may be permitted to wear other appropriate physical education attire when the parent/guardian files an objection based on religious or medical reasons.
- Clothing, jewelry, and/or accessories (such as backpacks and/or purses) with decorations, symbols, mottos, slogans, signs, images, or designs which are offensive or disruptive are prohibited. Examples include, but are not limited to, anything that promotes drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gang identification, weapons, or lewd sexual behavior; symbols or writings that have racial (e.g. swastikas, rebel flags, etc.) or sexual connotation; or profane language are also prohibited.
Exceptions
- Students may wear special clothing necessary for a school-sponsored activity, as permitted by the principal.
- Students who are enrolled in career and technical classes shall dress in a manner appropriate for the job in which they are receiving training, including any special protective gear and professional uniforms.
Discipline
- The Principal or his/her designee has the authority to decide if a student's clothing complies with Board policy or if it disrupts or interferes with the educational process or endangers the health and safety of the student or others.
- If the Principal or his/her designee determines that a student's clothing does not comply with Board policy, the student's parent/guardian may be asked to bring an appropriate change of clothes to school, or a student may be asked to leave an after-school activity. A student may also receive a disciplinary consequence for violating the school's dress code policy. Repeated violations may result in progressively more serious consequences.
- As required by F.S. 1006.07, any student who violates the dress policy is subject to the following disciplinary actions:
- First offense: a student shall be given a verbal warning and the school principal or his/her designee shall call the student's parent/guardian.
- Second offense: the student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to exceed five (5) days and the school principal or his/her designee shall meet with the student's parent/guardian. (Level I Discipline Intervention)
- Third or subsequent offense: a student shall receive an in-school suspension pursuant to F.S. 1003.01(5) for a period not to exceed three (3) days, the student is ineligible to participate in any extra-curricular activity for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days and the school principal shall call the student's parent/guardian and send the parent/guardian a written letter regarding the student's in-school suspension and ineligibility to participate in extra-curricular activities. (Level II Discipline Interventions)
- First offense: a student shall be given a verbal warning and the school principal or his/her designee shall call the student's parent/guardian.
The District is cognizant that students' religions, disabilities, or medical conditions may impact their ability to comply with the standard student attire policy. Reasonable accommodations based on religion, disability, or medical condition shall be permitted on an individual basis.
No later than September 1st of each year, the Superintendent shall certify to the Florida Commissioner of Education that the District has implemented the standard student attire policy in accordance with Florida law.
Revised 4/11/22
Note: The principal or designee has the final authority for determining whether or not a student’s apparel conforms to the dress code. The principal or designee may prohibit the use of clothing or items that cause disruption during school, on school transportation, or during school sponsored events. When it is determined that the apparel is inappropriate, parents/guardians will be asked to bring clothing to the school which will conform to this Code. Schools may adopt more stringent dress code or uniform policies that include “opt-out” clauses with Board approval. Students who opt-out of school uniform policies must follow the district dress code outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. |