An informal poll of school business officials in New Jersey revealed that 80.6% had a student dress code, 9.7% required students to wear uniforms, and 9.7% had no dress code or uniform policy.
Of the respondents with a dress code policy, 83.9% stated the consequence for violating the dress code was a phone call to the parent or guardian requesting that they bring appropriate clothing to school. Other consequences included sending the student home or providing the student with clothing, such as a T-shirt.
There is no right or wrong answer — this decision needs to involve not just administrators and board members but also the community.
Frustrations stemming from having a uniform or dress code policy included a lack of enforcement by the administration and a lack of cooperation by parents who know their students’ clothing violates the policy.
In addition, the GAO study found that some dress code policies discriminate by gender, race, and culture. For example, the GAO study found that many policies have rules about students’ hair length, hairstyles, and hair coverings, which may disproportionately affect black students. As students embrace gender identities that vary from traditional societal norms, equity becomes even more important.
The school district’s consideration of uniforms or whether they are necessary is a sensitive issue. Parents may want a guideline regarding particular colors and types of clothing (such as blue tops and khaki pants) rather than uniforms purchased from a specific site. Such guidance may be better received since clothing purchased from a manufacturer may limit its usage. Moreover, parents may be against uniforms because they inhibit their children’s ability to express themselves through clothing choices.
There is no right or wrong answer — this decision needs to involve not just administrators and board members but also the community. When everyone agrees, the implementation may be smoother with positive outcomes.
Staff Dress Codes
The poll of school business officials in New Jersey revealed that 93.5% of respondents say they have a staff dress code policy. Some school district departments mandate that their staff members — security officers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, and transportation personnel — must wear a district-purchased uniform or follow specific clothing guidelines. These guidelines identify the individuals as district employees (an element of security) and, in some cases, protect their own clothing from damage.
Staff dress code policies should be reviewed regularly and agreed upon by the administration, staff, bargaining units, and faculty. Those policy recommendations should be flexible enough to promote professionalism yet allow staff to dress appropriately for their responsibilities or a special event.
A Positive Culture
Artificial intelligence, social media, politics, and global pandemics can distract students’ attention from academics. A well-crafted dress policy for staff and students can return the focus to teaching and learning and provide safety throughout the district. By participating in the crafting and implementation of these policies, school business officials can create a positive environment centered on student achievement, not flip-flops and crop tops.
A Look At Current Workplace Dress Codes
Dress codes in the workplace are nothing new. Consider these statistics on staff dress codes in the general U.S. workplace, according to a 2023 Gallup poll:
■ Business casual (i.e., shirt and slacks for men; blouses, dress pants, dressy jeans, or skirts for women) is worn by 41% of U.S. workers — up 7% from 2019.
■ Casual street clothes (i.e., jeans or shorts for men; casual jeans, T-shirts, or leggings for women) are worn by 31% of the U.S. worker population — no change from 2019.
■ Uniforms are worn by 23% of the U.S. worker population — down 4% from 2019.
■ Business professional (i.e., suits or button-down shirts with a tie and slacks for men; pantsuits, skirts, and blazers for women) is worn by 3% of U.S. workers — down 4% from 2019.
Although the data are not specific to the K–12 education industry, they do provide insight into today’s work attire. Of particular interest is how the numbers stack up when comparing men with women and comparing across generations. For instance, although the overall style of choice of Gallup poll respondents was “business casual,” 51% of women and 32% of men made this selection. Alternatively, “casual street clothes” was the choice for 30% of women and 33% of men.
When analyzing the results by age, “business casual” was most popular for ages 35–54, and “casual street clothes” was most popular for respondents ages 55 and older.