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Uniform Policy

RES' Extra Shirt Color is Blue
 
Effingham County Schools Uniform Policy – Revised June 2010

Student Dress Code/Uniform Policy

Changes for 2010-11 year are highlighted in yellow.

All students in grades K-12 are expected to comply with the following Dress Code Policy. Wearing the school uniform is optional for Pre-k students.

Students are expected to dress appropriately while in attendance at school. This includes wearing the adopted school uniform. This policy addresses requirements for uniform dress days and dress down days. General appearance of students should be reasonable and not distracting to others. Students are expected and required to show proper attention to personal cleanliness, neatness, and conservative standards of dress and appearance. When questionable the school principal will make the final determination of whether a student’s attire or appearance is in conflict with the system policy. Students will observe the following dress code:

1. Hair should be fixed in an appropriate and acceptable manner. This also means no hats, caps, sun visors, combs, scarves, rollers or bandannas. No dying hair in an extreme color, such as blue, pink, green, etc. Hair must be a natural shade or tone. Sunglasses may not be worn inside. (Exceptions can be made with the principal for prescription glasses.)

2. No see-through garments; sheer see-through, or mesh see-through garments. Proper and acceptable undergarments will be worn at all times. Undergarments should not be visible to others.

3. Shirts may be unbuttoned three buttons down for polo shirts and only 2 buttons down for all other. No skin may be shown between the button line and the belt line. No midriff type clothing is allowed.

4. Clothing such as belts, flaps, etc., must be buttoned or buckled. Overalls should be worn with tabs in place and all hardware fastened. No chained wallets.

5. Dresses, skirts, and other similar garments shall be no more than four (4) inches above the bend in the back of the knee (measurement will be taken from top of the slit). Shorts, culottes, and other similar garments shall be no more than four (4) inches above the bend of the back of the knee (Shorts and other garments with slits will be measured from the top of the slit.)

6. Students are required to wear safe and appropriate shoes at all times. No flip flops, thongs, soccer sandals, bedroom shoes, heelies or similar type shoes are allowed at school. Toes of shoes must be enclosed.

7. Tank shirts and halter tops are not to be worn. Cleavage must not show - no low cut clothing. Sundresses that are cut low in the front or lower than the shoulder blades in the back are not allowed. No cut-out areas in sundresses are allowed.

8. No clothing, tattoos, or jewelry bearing advertisements of alcohol or tobacco products or offensive, obscene, or vulgar language will be allowed. The Effingham County Board of Education interprets this to include references of a sexual nature, either symbolic or implied, such as "Big Johnson" tee shirts; references to contraception; and insufficiently attired caricatures of individuals. Any clothing, jewelry, hair, make-up, fingernails, or any other item which causes a disruption of the school environment may be banned at the discretion of the principal. Georgia law prohibits tattoos for persons under 18 years of age.

9. All shirts, tops must be tucked in. Any shirt or top that cannot be tucked in and remain tucked in cannot be worn. (Exceptions may be made for seasonal jackets, coats, sweaters and sweatshirts of appropriate size that are in accordance with the policy). Trench coats are not allowable.

10. Pants legs must not drag the floor. Students are expected to wear clothing in a normal fashion. For example, shorts/pants must be worn with the waistband around the waist. Skinny jeans are not permitted. (Skinny jeans are not permitted.)

11. No visible body piercing except ears (limit to three per ear in the lobe area). Students are not permitted to wear mouth grills and fronts.

Effingham County Schools Uniform Policy – Revised June 2010

12. No torn, ripped, cut or cut-off clothing of any fashion that is not properly hemmed will be allowed.

13. The principal shall have the authority to interpret dress code and make case by case determinations for the appropriateness of dress which is questionable or which is not covered in this policy.

K-2 Exceptions:

The length rule for skirts and shorts will be relaxed; tank tops and sundresses will be allowed.

K-5 Exceptions:

The rule regarding tucking in shirts and tops may be relaxed.

The following mandatory uniform standards for student attire have been developed and are applicable to all elementary, middle and high schools for the 2010-2011 school term.

Girls Basic Uniform:

The basic uniform clothing for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grade shall consist of a long or short-sleeved white, black (or other color designated by the school) collared, 3 button polo shirt with khaki, navy or black skirt, shorts, slacks, capri pants, skorts, or jumper. Polo shirt-dresses are not permitted. The skirts, shorts, slacks, capri pants, skorts, or jumper should be made of standard twill, cotton, or polyester uniform material. See bullets below for description.

Boys Basic Uniform:

The basic uniform clothing for boys in kindergarten through twelfth grade shall consist of a long or short sleeved white, black (or other color designated by the school) collared, 3 button polo shirt with khaki, navy or black shorts or slacks. The shorts or slacks should be made of standard twill, polyester, or cotton uniform material. See bullets below for description.

  1. Solid khaki, navy, or black pants/slacks, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers, or capri pants (no knit pants, leggings, footless leggings, jogging or cargo pants or shorts; no zippers, pockets, or other ornamentation on pant legs or skirts or any other part of the uniform.) Uniforms must be worn and belted at the natural waist, made of standard uniform material (cotton, polyester and /or twill) and pants legs must not drag the floor. Skinny jeans and pants are not acceptable. No denim jeans, skirts, shorts, etc. Shorts, skorts, skirts, and jumpers must be no more than 4 inches above the bend in the back of the knee. Skinny jeans/pants are not acceptable. 
  2. Tops must be solid white or black polo (accepted at all schools) or the second color selected by the school's uniform committee. Tops must be polo style long or short sleeve, collared, 3 button shirts. Students may also wear a turtle neck in white, black or the school's second color or a pull-over crew neck sweatshirt in white, black, ash or the school's second color with NO hood as their uniform shirt. If the sweatshirt is worn next to the body as the uniform shirt, it cannot have a hood and must be white, ash or the second school color. Shirts may have the school insignia if one is chosen. The school insignia is not a requirement but no other insignia is permitted. Shirts must be tucked. No pockets on shirts.
  1. Shoes must have enclosed toes. (See item #6)
  1. Only socks, tights, or hose with feet may be worn. (No footless tights.) Socks and tights must be solid white, navy, black or the chosen school color. Hose must be neutral skin tones with no design.
  1. No hats, sun visors, scarves, rollers, bandannas, caps or sunglasses may be worn in the building.
  1. The Uniform dress code shall not prohibit students from wearing coats, jackets and sweaters when necessary due to weather conditions. Trench coats and dusters are not permitted.

The following guidelines must be followed regarding jackets:

Heavy Outer wear

(jackets, coats, wraps) to be worn OUTDOORS ONLY

    1. No restrictions on color
    2. Cannot bear inappropriate messages
    3. Cannot be a Trench coat or duster
    4. Must be deemed appropriate by the principal

      Effingham County Schools Uniform Policy – Revised June 2010

      Wraps to be worn

      INSIDE THE BUILDING–If a student needs to wear a jacket, windshirt, sweatshirt or sweater inside the building/classroom, it must be worn over the uniform polo, pull-over sweatshirt, turtle neck, or current year spirit shirt. This outer wear must be as follows:

      1. It cannot bear a logo or name brand symbol or other insignia or message
      2. Articles of clothing that may be worn over the uniform shirts (i.e. polo, crew neck sweatshirt, turtle neck, or current year school spirit shirt) include jackets, windbreakers, sleeveless V-neck or crew neck sweater vests, long or short sleeve pullover V-neck or crew neck sweaters, cardigan sweaters, long sleeve or sleeveless V-neck or crew neck wind shirts, V-neck or cardigan sweatshirts, or fleece garments of the same type. The collar of the polo is to be worn out of the extra garment. If a spirit shirt, sweatshirt or turtleneck is worn it must show at the neck of the outer garment.
          1. Jackets must be solid school colors; white, ash, navy, black, or the second color chosen by the school. Navy, white, ash, or black outer garments will be acceptable county wide.
          1. Windshirts, sweaters, sweater vests, sweatshirts, or fleecies, (cardigan or V-neck, sleeveless or with sleeves, zip, button or snap must be one solid color, solid ash, white or the second color as chosen by the school. These must be worn over the uniform shirt. If the extra garment has a hood, the hood cannot be worn in the building.
          1. These garments must not have name brand logos or any other symbols or logos on them.
          1. Prints, plaids, camouflage and other patterns or designs are not acceptable

          Garments that can be worn under the uniform polo, the current year school spirit shirt or crew neck sweatshirt are:

          1. A solid white, solid black, or second school color undershirt
          2. Solid white, black or solid school color turtle neck
          1. Solid white camisole

          [The above garments must also be tucked in.]

          1. Extreme hair color/style that causes a disruption, or interferes with the learning environment will not be allowed.
          2. Uniforms should be in the correct size to avoid sagging.
          1. Universal Uniform -In addition to the selected school uniform colors, a universal uniform consisting of a black or white 3 button polo shirt and khaki, black, or navy colored bottoms (pants, capri pants, shorts, skirt, skorts, or jumper that adhere to the proper length as described in the schools uniform policy) will be acceptable at all schools in the district. Navy, white, ash or black outer wear (jackets, coats, wraps for indoor wear)will be acceptable at all schools in the district. The only black shirts that are acceptable are the three button polo and the black turtle neck.
          1. In addition to the shirts described above, each school may include in its uniform dress code the option of allowing students to intermittently wear the school sponsored T shirt of the current year (which may have a crew neck rather than a collar.)
          1. Belts must be plain style solid color black, brown, tan, navy or white and worn inside the belt loops. Belts should not have metal, jeweled, or any other decorations on them. Belt buckles should be plain. They should not have oversized, ornate buckles or buckles that bear offensive messages.
          1. This uniform policy prohibits students from wearing or displaying expressive items on the uniform that may contribute to disruption by substantially interfering with discipline or with the rights of others. It also prohibits items that undermine the integrity of the uniform, notwithstanding their expressive

        Effingham County Schools Uniform Policy – Revised June 2010

        nature, such as a sweatshirt or other over-shirt that bears a message and/or covers or replaces the type of shirt required by the uniform policy.

        1. On special occasions schools will be allowed to have dress down days. The principal at each school will determine the dress down days for that site. Acceptable dress for dress down days will be consistent with the dress code as published in this policy and in the Effingham County Student and Parent Handbook.
        1. Schools should strive for full compliance using positive reinforcement. Corrective action should only be used when all positive measures have been exhausted.

        **Note** Black does not mean "faded black" and navy blue does not mean "faded navy".

        Compliance

        The correction plan below has been established to address incidents of noncompliance to the Uniform Policy.

        Incident #1.

        Student is referred to nurse or other appointed staff member who will provide a uniform for the student based on availability. The uniform will be returned at the end of the school day. The nurse/staff member sends home a letter from the administration.

        Incident #2.

        In addition to the same action as taken for incident #1, the office will make a phone call to the parent.

        Incident #3.

        Same as incident #1 and a conference will take place with parent, teacher, and administrator to address the problem and develop a solution.

        Incident #4.

        Violation will be addressed in accordance with the Code of Conduct, which provides for various consequences depending on a student's discipline record and the severity of the offense.

        No student will be considered non-compliant with the uniform policy under the following conditions:

        1. During the first 3 weeks after a student transfers from another system or school within the system-
        2. When a student is on campus outside of school hours-
        3. When the principal authorizes dress down days or gives special permission-
        4. When instructors/advisors have obtained permission through the principal and require students to dress in uniforms such as band, ROTC, sports teams, etc.

        Revised June, 2010

        Last Modified on June 10, 2010