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Dress and Grooming Standards

 Adopted: 10-10-90
Amended: 3-15-00 and 4-18-01
Revised:  4-4-07, 9-11-19, 6-14-23

Philosophy—

South Sanpete Board of Education is committed to provide a safe, wholesome, healthy educational environment where academic learning, personal development, and a sense of pride and accomplishment can flourish. Understanding that dress and grooming can positively or adversely affect the educational goals and the attitudes of students, the Board hereby authorizes each school to implement and enforce the Dress and Grooming Standards outlined in this Policy.

In all dress and grooming choices, the Board encourages all students and parents to exercise good judgment, exhibit responsible behavior, and endeavor to reflect respect for themselves, their fellow students, their school, and their community.

Definitions— 
  1. Disruption
    A disruption is a negative reaction by individuals to the clothing, grooming, or embellishment of a student or students that results in disruption of the instructional process; that creates student distractions, confrontations, or complaints; that adversely affects the health and safety of individuals; and that directly interferes with the operation of the school and school activities as judged by the school administration.
  1. Gang
    A gang is defined as any organization, association or group of three or more which has a unique name or identifiable signs, symbols, or marks, and whose members individually or collectively engage in criminal or violent behavior to persons or property, or who create an unreasonable and substantial disruption or risk of disruption of a class, activity, program, or other function of a school.
Policy—

The Dress and Grooming Standards of South Sanpete School District shall promote a positive educational environment for students, parents, visitors, and staff members. Dress and grooming which is substantially disruptive; compromises a person’s health or safety; attracts undue or improper attention to one’s self; distracts from learning process; interferes with the pedagogy and educational atmosphere in the classroom or building; or is so conspicuous, extreme, or odd will not be allowed at school or any school-sponsored activities.

The following dress and grooming standards have been adopted for the students in South Sanpete School District:

  1. Clothing
    1. All clothing must be clean and
    2. Undergarments must be completely covered at all
    3. The length of shorts, skirts, , must be modest and close to the knee.
    4. Shirts, blouses, tops, dresses, and other such clothing shall be modest (not see-through) and
      1. cover the midriff, back, sides, and undergarments at all times;
      2. (as a guideline) have necklines that are not lower than a straight line from the top of the underarm across to opposite underarm;
      3. have sleeves that cover the shoulders or capped;
      4. be worn correctly and buttoned
    5. No pajamas or other sleeping
    6. No excessively baggy clothing/apparel.
    7. No tight-fitting, spandex-type pants, exercise/yoga pants, tights, leotards, , may be worn as outer garments. If worn as a first layer, should be covered to the same length as shorts and skirts. (1-C)
    8. Jeans with holes are allowed, but no skin or underwear can be exposed above the same standard as shorts and skirts. (1-C)
    9. Advertisements, pictures, references, writings, promotions of harmful or illegal substances (such as tobacco, drugs, alcohol, ), depictions or references to violent acts, and references to gangs are prohibited on all clothing and personal belongings.
    10. No obscene, lewd, sexual innuendos, racial, ethnic, indecent, vulgar, violent, or inappropriate sayings, writing, diagrams, or pictures are allowed on clothing or personal belongings, e.g., notebooks, backpacks, gym bags, water bottles, lockers, badges, patches, etc.
    11. No Bandanas
    12. Students may not wear sunglasses or permanently tinted glasses within the building during regular school hours.
  1. Hair
    1. Hair shall be clean, neatly groomed, off the eyes, free from obscuring the face and free from restricting vision.
    2. Facial hair (beards, mustaches and sideburns) should be well-groomed, neat and clean.
    3. Hair color shall be within the spectrum of natural hair Modest color streaks may be allowed.
    4. Hair styles and colors that are so conspicuous, extreme, or odd shall not be allowed when they draw undue attention, distraction or
  1. Footwear
    1. Safe and appropriate footwear must be worn at all times to ensure personal safety and good hygiene.
    2. Shoes, boots, and sandals (with back-straps or heels) are considered appropriate footwear.
    3. No skate shoes, bedroom slippers, or bare feet are allowed at any
    4. Flip-flops are not allowed in school due to health and safety
  1. Piercing and Tattoos
    1. Conservative ear and nose piercings are permitted
    2. No facial piercing, tongue piercing, gauging, or ring type nose
    3. Extreme piercing and accessories that interfere with the educational process or pose a health or safety issue must be removed, and disruptive, offensive tattoos must be covered.
  1. Gang Clothing and Accessories
    1. Students are prohibited from engaging in any form of gang activity on or about school property or at any school activity, including the wearing, possessing, using, distributing, displaying, or selling of any gang attire, symbols, signs, colors, names, bandanas, monikers, hats, and all other paraphernalia which are evidence of membership in or affiliation with, recruitment, or desire to be affiliated with, any gang.
    2. As gang styles and clothing continually change, school officials shall determine what constitutes “current gang” clothing, attire, and other paraphernalia after consultation with law enforcement agencies and shall make changes as needed throughout the year.
    3. The following items are not allowed:
      1. Exaggerated, disruptive cosmetics;
      2. Body or facial paint;
      3. Dangerous attachments (spikes, bracelets, chokers, chains, long-hanging belts, dog collars, and other weaponry items);
      4. Flagging (hanging bandanas or rags from belts, pockets, purses, back packs, etc.);
      5. Clothing, hats, or apparel displaying Old English or “graffiti” style lettering;
      6. Other clothing and/or a personal appearance that school officials have reason to anticipate would significantly disrupt class work, activities, or cause considerable disorder or invasion of rights of others.
    4. The Safe School Policy (JH) may also be used to address gang issues and disciplinary measures.
Authority—

The Board delegates to the school administration and all school staff members the responsibility to see that students adhere to the dress and grooming standards established in this Policy; therefore, all staff members have a shared responsibility in seeing that these standards are implemented and enforced in classrooms, in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, at school activities, and at other school-related functions. The principal or designee shall be the final judge about whether a student’s dress and grooming is appropriate.

On a yearly basis or more often if needed, School Community Councils, together with the school administration, shall have the authority to determine additional standards not contained in this Policy. In addition, coaches and advisors to extracurricular clubs, teams, and organizations may also set additional standards. All additional standards shall be reviewed by the Board.

From time to time, the District, Board or the school administration may approve exceptions to this Policy, e.g., special school-sponsored activities and assemblies; religious or medical purposes; official military attire for qualifying persons; required classes, e.g. shop, home economics, laboratories, physical education, etc.; cheerleaders or drill team performances; and other occasions as deemed appropriate.

School Community Councils, parents/guardians, or school administrators desiring to adopt a school-wide uniform policy shall follow the procedures outlined in Utah Code 53A-15-(1101-1103).

Discipline—

The principal or designee shall be responsible for the disciplinary action(s) for dress and grooming violations. For the purpose of this Policy, a parent contact may be made in person, in writing, or by phone. A parent conference may be held in person or via phone.

For each dress and grooming code violation, the student shall be instructed to change and the incident shall be documented. Repeated violations shall result in one or more of the following disciplinary actions:

Possible Disciplinary Action:

  1. The student shall receive a verbal
  2. The student shall be given an opportunity to change at school using his/her own clothing or clothing provided by the school.
  3. The student shall be sent home to
  4. A parent contact shall be
  5. A parent conference shall be scheduled before the student returns to
  1. A plan shall be developed to outline the disciplinary action(s) for future
  2. The student may be suspended from school and/or excluded from participating or attending extracurricular activities, assemblies, dances, field trips, etc.
  3. The student may be placed in in-school
  4. For total disregard of the Dress and Grooming Standards or for habitual violations, the principal may make a referral to the District’s alternative school or recommend a different educational setting for a period of
  5. At his/her discretion, the principal or designee may choose to use other appropriate disciplinary options not listed.
  6. Dress and grooming violations that relate to gang issues may be handled through the District’s Safe School Policy or the Student Discipline

Note:

Before any disciplinary action is taken, the principal or designee shall provide due process to the student where the student shall be given an opportunity to render an explanation. After hearing the explanation, the principal or designee shall render a decision based upon this Policy. On a school level, the principal’s or designee’s decision shall be the final judgment in determining whether a violation has occurred and rendering appropriate discipline. If the student or parent/guardian is not satisfied with the school’s decision, they may appeal it to the Board.

Policy References: “Student Discipline” (JG) and “Safe School Policy” (JH)

pdfJFCA_Dress_and_Grooming_Standards.pdf