502.01 Student Appearance

Code No. 502.1

STUDENT APPEARANCE

The board believes inappropriate student appearance may cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees and visitors.

Students are expected to adhere to standards of cleanliness and dress that are compatible with the requirements of a good learning environment. The standards will be those generally acceptable to the community as appropriate in a school setting.

The board expects students to be clean and well-groomed and wear clothes in good repair and appropriate for the time, place, and occasion. Clothing or other apparel promoting products illegal for use by minors and clothing displaying obscene material, profanity, or reference to prohibited conduct are disallowed.

While the primary responsibility for students' personal appearance lies with the students and their parents, appearance disruptive to the education program will not be tolerated. When, in the judgment of a principal, a student's appearance or mode of dress disrupts the educational process or constitutes a threat to health or safety, the student may be required to make modifications.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference: 

Hazelwood Sch. Dist. v. Kulmeier, 484 U.S.260 (1988).

Bethal School Dist. v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986).  

Tinker v. Des Moines Ind. Sch. Dist. 393 U.S. 503 (1969).

Bystrom v. Fridle High School, 822 F.2d 747 (8th Cir.1987).

Torvik v. Decorah Comm. Sch.453 F.2d 779 (8th Cir. 1972).

Turley v. Adel Community School District, 322 F. Supp. 402 (S .D .Iowa 1971) .

Sims v. Colfax Comm. School Dist., 307 F.Supp. 485 (Iowa1970).

Iowa Code 279.8 (2013).

Approved 9-13-93 Reviewed 11-21-16   Revised 3-19-18