2012-2013 dress and grooming standards
 
Philosophy

One of Goose Creek CISD’s goals for ALL students is that they succeed both academically and socially and are prepared for the future upon graduation from high school. 

It is the philosophy of Goose Creek CISD that one’s behavior, actions, and performance are affected by the way people dress. 

Appropriate student dress and grooming are important factors in the orderly operation of the schools.

In the future, one certainly will have to follow rules, regulations, and dress codes of employers and some institutions of higher learning. 

Therefore, full cooperation between the home and school is expected.

Violation of the dress code is a Level II offense, according to The Student Code of Conduct. 

Disciplinary action other than those listed in this policy and consistent with Level II disciplinary actions may be imposed for dress code violations.

This dress code has been established to:
  • Reflect the high standards of the community, adhering to good taste, modesty, and dignity;
  • Create an atmosphere of respect for authority, safety, and good personal hygiene/grooming;
  • Promote consistent standards of dress and grooming; and
  • Reflect a sense of pride in self, one’s academic achievements, one’s school, and the District.
The student and his/her parent(s) or guardian may determine the student’s personal dress and grooming standards provided that the student’s dress and grooming:
  • Shall not lead school officials to reasonably believe that such dress or grooming will disrupt, interfere with, disturb, or detract from school activities; and?
  • Shall not create a health problem or safety hazard for the student or others.
Using the following guidelines, school administrators, with the input and support of faculty members, have the final decision in determining and enforcing acceptable student dress and grooming standards.

The guidelines will be reviewed periodically to ensure that they continue to address the standards of the community and District.


GENERAL GUIDELINES

Students are not to wear clothing that is tight, loose, revealing, sagging, baggy, or short. 

Examples of unacceptable clothing according to this guideline include biker shorts, miniskirts, tank tops, backless apparel, midriffs, see-through clothing, and/or deliberately cut or torn garments.
  • Students are prohibited from wearing clothing with visual, written, or implied messages that are likely to disrupt the school environment.
  • Examples of such prohibited visual, written, or implied messages include, but are not limited to, the following: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, violence, vulgar or obscene language, and/or insults to race, religion, gender, or ethnicity.
  • An American flag or any state flag or facsimile thereof may not be attached on a garment, jewelry, or any other item in a disrespectful manner.
  • Display of the Confederate battle flag is not permitted.
  • Students are prohibited from wearing any form of dress or accessory identifying him or her as a member of or promoting a gang, cult, or other unauthorized student group or symbolizing the beliefs of such a group; i.e., territorial designations (zip codes, area codes, hometowns), or five- or six-point crowns, or designs or symbols identified by local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies and/or GCCISD.    
  • Clothing must be worn in the manner for which designed; clothing shall not be worn inside-out.
  • Students must wear appropriate underclothing.
  • Students may not wear pajama tops and/or bottoms, house shoes, or slippers.
  • Students in grades 2 through 12 must wear belts with pants that have belt loops.
  • Students in grades 2 through 8 must tuck in all shirts, except sweatshirts and sweaters with a banded waist, at all times. Shirts that are insufficient in length to tuck in may not be worn.
  • Students participating in school-related activities, such as extracurricular or UIL activities, may have a different dress or grooming code imposed.

SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

Blouses/Shirts

  • Tank tops, backless apparel, halter tops, midriffs, muscle shirts, tops with straps less than two inches or three fingers wide (whichever is greatest), sleeveless tops that are revealing (deep or low-cut), see-through blouses, tube tops, and deliberately cut-off or torn shirts are not acceptable. Blouses covering tube tops must be buttoned so as not to reveal torso or shoulders.
  • All shirts must be worn so as not to expose the bare chest. The midriff must not be exposed when a student goes through the normal activities of a school day (bending, stretching, reaching, etc.).

  • Students in grades 2 through 8 must tuck in all shirts, except sweatshirts and sweaters with a banded waist, at all times. Shirts that are insufficient in length to tuck in may not be worn.


   Shorts / Skirts / Skorts
  • Students are permitted to wear shorts and other garments that are of an appropriate and modest length. The standard of minimum length is at the fingertips when arms are at the side.
  • Shorts must have a finished hem; jogging shorts, cut-offs, nylon shorts, biker shorts, wind shorts, or boxer shorts are not acceptable.

    If it is deemed that there has been disregard of the dress code guidelines outlined above, the privilege of wearing shorts may be revoked.
  • Any student who violates this rule twice when wearing shorts will lose the privilege of wearing shorts for the remainder of the school year.
  • Skirts/skorts shall preserve modesty and the hem may not be shorter than fingertip length when the student is standing.  Slits, flaps, or other openings in skirts/skorts shall not be above fingertip length.

Dresses
  • Dresses must follow the same rule for length as described for skirts. Slits, flaps, or other openings in dresses shall not be above fingertip length when the student is standing.
  • Dresses with straps less than two inches or three fingers wide (whichever is greatest) may not be worn. Dresses with spaghetti straps may not be worn.
  • Pants / Belts
  • Students are prohibited from wearing pants that present a safety and/or modesty issue.
  • Pants must be worn at waist level at all times.
  • Sagging pants shall not be allowed.
  • See-through pants are not allowed.
  • Overalls and suspenders, if worn, must be worn over both shoulders and buckled as designed.
  • Students in grades 2 through 12 must wear belts with pants that have belt loops.
  • Exposed undergarments are prohibited.

Shoes/Footwear
  • Footwear must be worn at all times.
  • Shoes must be appropriate for school. In grades PK-8, footwear traditionally worn around the home (i.e., house shoes, slippers) or to the beach (i.e., flip flop design, water shoes, athletic sandals, etc.) is not permitted. In grades 9-12, footwear traditionally worn around the home (house shoes, slippers) is not permitted.
  • The campus principal will determine the appropriateness of footwear worn by students.
School District personnel will respond to changes, fads, etc., in shoes as appropriate.

Colored Glasses/Sunglasses/Contacts
  • Students shall not wear colored glasses, sunshades, or distracting contacts in the building.

Hair/Eyebrows
  • The student’s hairstyle/color must not distract from or interfere with the learning environment. Hair must be neat, clean, well groomed, and out of the eyes. A student’s bangs may not extend below the eyebrows at any time.  Shaved lines in eyebrows will not be permitted.
  • Letters, symbols, and designs beyond a single straight line which draw attention to an individual shall not be permitted. Extreme hairstyles, which include hair that is dyed (either partially or completely) an unnatural color (i.e., green, orange, etc.) or glittered will not be permitted.    
The administrator/supervisor reserves the right to determine if a hairstyle is disruptive to the educational process. 

Head Coverings
  • No type of head covering, cap, or hat is to be worn or brought to school with the exception of approved school uniforms (i.e., ROTC or other extenuating circumstances with administrative approval). All other types of headwear worn or brought into the building will be confiscated and disciplinary action will be taken.

Coats, jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts that have an attached hood are allowed but the hood may not be worn inside the building at any time.

Special days for headwear may be permitted by the campus principal.

Jewelry

  • Jewelry/accessories that are deemed noisy, distracting or unsafe may not be worn.        
  • Male students are not permitted to wear earrings or any other objects in the ear.
  • No student shall be permitted to wear objects in or on other exposed body parts (i.e., nose, eyebrows, lips, tongue, etc.).
  • No student shall be allowed to wear “grills” or any other unnecessary type of orthodontic device.

Mustaches/Beards
  • Mustaches may be worn as long as they are neatly trimmed and do not extend past the corners of the mouth.
  • Sideburns shall be neatly trimmed and not extend past the earlobe.
  • No other facial hair will be allowed.

Tattoos

  • Tattoos and/or any other drawings on the skin must be covered/removed.

Dress and Grooming Violations

Students who come to school in violation of the District and/or campus dress code will have the option of correcting the violation or being placed in In-School Suspension (at campuses with ISS) for the remainder of the day on a first offense.

The second and subsequent violation(s) of the dress code will result in disciplinary action according to The Student Code of Conduct (Level II offense).

 In addition, parents may be asked to bring appropriate attire to school to assist in correcting the violation(s).

Additional Dress Standards
Individual campuses may develop and enforce additional dress and grooming guidelines that meet the standards of the campus.

These guidelines may be more restrictive than those published above; however, these additional guidelines should adhere to the general guidelines stated above and be developed with the advice of a campus committee.

The guidelines will be communicated to the students and parents in a timely manner.