{"id":355010,"date":"2016-04-04T11:01:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/education\/student-rights\/school-dress-codes.html"},"modified":"2023-10-17T17:49:53","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T22:49:53","slug":"school-dress-codes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/education\/student-rights\/school-dress-codes.html","title":{"rendered":"School Dress Codes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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School Dress Codes<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

School dress codes are rules about what students can wear. They are set by school administrators and school officials. They have become a hot topic in the world of law, civil rights, and education. School dress codes touch on topics like gender identity and sexual orientation. They also touch on ethnicity and freedom of expression.<\/p>\r\n

School boards are generally allowed to create and enforce dress code programs. They must do so without violating the constitutional rights of students. This article addresses laws regarding school dress codes.<\/p>\r\n

School Dress Code Laws<\/h2>\r\n

In most public school districts, administrators have the power to set a school uniform policy or other dress code. This power comes from a 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case. This case, Tinker v. Des Moines School District<\/i><\/a>, involved several high school students who wore black armbands to school. This was part of a planned protest against the Vietnam War.<\/p>\r\n

The court ruled that school officials could limit student expression (like what students wear) if they could show that it causes a \u201csubstantial disruption" in the school. But here’s the catch: these policies must also follow federal law, like the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution<\/a>. This amendment protects free speech<\/a>. The court ruled that students and teachers do not \u201cshed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."<\/p>\r\n

Today, most states have laws allowing school boards to make dress code rules for students. School boards do this to promote a safe, disciplined school environment. They also create these rules to prevent interference with schoolwork and discipline<\/a>. They also encourage uniformity of student dress. For example, dress codes may prohibit clothing featuring vulgar or obscene content. In contrast, dress codes censoring student expression just because educators do not like the message are not allowed.<\/p>\r\n

Dress Code Policies vs. Freedom of Speech<\/h2>\r\n

Not all speech is protected in a school setting. Some clothes may be prohibited if they draw attention away from the learning environment.<\/p>\r\n

Therefore, dress code limits have included the following:<\/p>\r\n