Procedure 2.1.14 APPROPRIATE DRESS

Approved: January 22, 2002

Revised: June 16, 2020

1.0 Student Dress Code

District School Board Ontario North East requires that each school will have a student dress code. Dress Codes require that students shall at all times wear appropriate dress that promotes a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning and teaching environment.

Inappropriate dress includes any clothing or personal possession that has representations and/or language that depict violence, profanity, discriminatory, hateful, or sexually explicit images or sentiments. In addition, dress or logos that demean or threaten an identifiable individual or group are prohibited.

All parents will receive a copy of the school’s dress code annually for their information.

Under the leadership of the Principal, school staff and the School Council, will review the school dress code regularly and consider any changes suggested.

2.0 Formal Dress - School Uniforms

If a significant number of parents indicate a wish to implement a school uniform, the following procedures will be applied.

To implement a formal dress code or uniform, a decision making process will be developed to demonstrate that:

there is a minimum support of 75% of “eligible families” of students enrolled in the school for the proposed change; and,

in the case of joint or shared custody arrangements, the definition of “eligible families” will be left to the discretion of the principal; and,

there is a minimum support of 75% of the intermediate and senior students at the secondary level.

If the minimum level of support is reached, the new formal dress code will be implemented.

Students will be expected to comply with a school’s dress code. Progressive discipline will be applied as required, if students do not comply.

The appropriate Superintendent of Education will be kept informed throughout the process if a significant change is being considered

Operational Procedures

Through communication with parents, students, and staff, School Councils will determine if there is significant interest in changes to the existing school dress code including an interest in implementing a more formal dress code or a school uniform.
At the secondary level, intermediate and senior students must be part of the consultation and voting process.
It is recommended that at least 51% of the parents and the intermediate and senior students indicate a minimum interest before proceeding with the next stage of information gathering and planning.
A more formal dress code could include such things as the wearing of dress pants or solid colored tops only with no logos, etc.
A school uniform would be a limited and specific set of alternative pieces of clothing for students to wear.
It is recommended that a survey be attached to the actual dress code sent home to determine the interest for change.
Parents will be informed that if there is sufficient interest in changing the dress code significantly, the School Council is required to look into the matter further and report their findings.
Parents will be assured that a final show of support will be required before a proposed change would be implemented in the school.
If there is sufficient interest, a process must be followed which ensures that consideration is given to the following:
1. affordability/availability for families
2. consistency with the Charter of Rights and the Human Rights Code,
3. the expectations for student compliance and the role of staff to monitor compliance,
4. the implementation timeframe
5. issues of relevance to the school’s administrators,
6. the maximum involvement of students and their parents, e.g. In the selection of a school uniform,
7. clear communications with parents, students and staff throughout the process,
8. the process to ensure compliance with the Board’s Administrative Regulations.
If there is not sufficient interest, no further action will be taken during the school year.

It should be noted that the school dress codes will require regular review outside of this policy to ensure compliance with the Board’s Code of Conduct and its expectations.

Appendices

References