The South Orange-Maplewood School District emailed parents and guardians of middle school and high school students today to remind them of the dress code.
The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education voted to revise the district’s dress and grooming policy last October, after a controversy last spring triggered a debate on whether school dress codes were inconsistently enforced and unfairly singled out female students.
The policy sent today and signed by school principals Elizabeth Aaron (Columbia High School), Joseph Uglialoro (South Orange Middle School) and Jerrill Adams (Maplewood Middle School), reads as follows:
South Orange Maplewood School District DRESS CODE
At all of our District Schools, we expect all students and staff to dress appropriately for the educational and professional community we are.
- Students are not permitted to wear clothing with offensive messages that reference sex, violence, weapons, drugs, alcohol, gang affiliations, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, gender, etc., and that have the effect of substantially and materially interfering with the school program.
- Underwear must not be visible.
- Clothing and undergarments should cover skin as appropriate for a school and professional setting. All tops should have straps.
- See-through clothing is prohibited.
- Shoes that increase the likelihood of accidents and injury should not be worn.
- Sunshades or any dark glasses should not be worn unless they are prescribed for medical reasons and a doctor’s note is on file in the medical office.
- Chains or jewelry with sharp projections should not be worn.
- Headgear, including hats, scarves, do-rags and headbands is not permitted to be worn, except for religious or medical reasons. In instances where students wear headgear for religious reasons, a letter from a parent or guardian requesting exception to policy must be presented to the school administration at the beginning of the school year.Consequences:
Students who violate this dress code will be asked to change their clothing as needed with parental or school assistance and with every effort to minimize loss of instructional time and any embarrassment to students. In the event of repeated violations, students, parents/guardians, and school administration will meet to remedy the situation.
