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Uniforms

The following mandatory uniform standards for student attire have been developed and are applicable to all elementary, middle, and high schools.

1. TOPS
   • Colors – white, black (or additional color designated by the school)
   • Styles – a long or short-sleeved collared polo shirt; no pockets; insignias or emblems no larger than a standard credit card.
   • Fit – Shirts no longer have to be physically tucked in but must be long enough to be tucked in.
   • Fit – Shirts may not be longer than fingertip length
   • Fit – Shirts with buttons must be buttoned properly
   • Under the school uniform – solid color (navy, white, ash, or black) undershirt, camisole, or turtleneck
   • In addition to the shirts described above, each school may include in its uniform dress code the option of allowing students to wear a school-sponsored T-shirt (which may have a crew neck rather than a collar.)
2. BOTTOMS
   • Colors - khaki, navy, or black 
   • Styles - skirt, shorts, slacks, capri pants, skorts; no form-fitting fabric or styles; no ornamentation or insignia larger than a standard credit card, no more than 1 insignia/emblem per clothing article
   • Fit –  Skirts, shorts, and skorts may be no more than four (4) inches above the bend of the back of the knee (garments with slits will be measured from the top of the slit);  pants and shorts must be worn and belted at the natural waist; pants legs must not drag the floor; correct size to avoid sagging or overly snug fit.
3. JUMPERS/DRESSES
   • Colors - khaki, navy, or black
   • Styles - no ornamentation and no insignia larger than a standard credit card, no more than 1 insignia/emblem per clothing article
   • Fit - no more than four (5) inches above the bend of the back of the knee (garments with slits will be measured from the top of the slit.)
4.   UNIFORM ACCESSORIES
   • SHOES
     • Closed-toe and fully closed-back are required
     • Matched pair
     • Properly fastened
   • SOCKS & TIGHTS
     • Socks – matched set of no more than 2 solid colors; 
     • Tights, leggings, and hose -   solid, neutral, black, white, navy or chosen school color; no pattern or designs; 
   • BELTS
     • Colors - solid color 
     • Fit - worn inside the belt loops

Supplemental Wear  

The Uniform dress code shall not prohibit students from wearing coats, jackets, and sweaters, or layered garments when necessary due to weather conditions. Trench coats and dusters are not permitted. Garments that do not meet the description below under “Indoor Layering Garments” must be removed upon entering the building.

Indoor Layering Garments

If, while in the building, a student needs to wear a wrap for warmth, it must be worn over an approved uniform top. If the extra garment has a hood, the hood cannot be worn in the building.

• Colors -  Majority solid with no more than two color combinations of solid navy, white, ash, or black or school-designated color; prints, plaids, camouflage, and other patterns or designs are prohibited
• Styles  - Cannot bear a logo or name brand symbol or other insignia or message larger than the size of a standard credit card, no more than 2 insignia/emblems per clothing article

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 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.

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.

High School students who participate in a pathway or specialty programs that have prescribed uniform requirements may wear those uniforms throughout the school day provided that the uniforms meet the individual program requirements.

General Standards

The following provisions apply to both uniform and dress down days:

• Students are expected to wear clothing in a normal fashion. For example, shorts/pants must be worn with the waistband around the waist.  Pants' legs must not drag the floor.  Clothing such as belts, flaps, shoes, etc., must be fastened.
• Shirts may be unbuttoned three buttons down for polo shirts and only 2 buttons down for all others.   
• Shirts no longer have to be physically tucked in but must be long enough to be tucked in.
• Shirts may not be longer than fingertip length
• No skin may be shown between the button line and the beltline. 
• Clinging, revealing, immodest, or overly form-fitting garments are not allowed. Cleavage must not show.  Sundresses that are cut low in the front or lower than the shoulder blades in the back are not allowed. 
• No clothing or accessories which through language or graphics display, exploit, sanction or promote drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gangs, sex, violence, discrimination, vulgarity, or unlawful activity are allowed.
• Dresses, skirts, and other similar garments shall be no more than four (5) inches above the bend in the back of the knee (measurement will be taken from the top of the slit). Shorts, culottes, and other similar garments shall be no more than four (5) 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.)  The wearing of leggings, tights, or similar attire does not provide for an exception to the length requirement for dresses, skirts or other similar garments. Acceptable legging colors include white, tan, black, brown, navy, or grey, in solid colors only.
• Proper and acceptable undergarments will be worn at all times. Undergarments should not be visible to others.
• While indoors, students may not wear the hood portion of a hooded jacket.
• Hair should be fixed in an appropriate and acceptable manner with no extreme styles such as mohawks. 
• Matched-pair, fastened, closed-toe, and closed-back shoes are required. Students are required to wear safe and appropriate shoes at all times.  
• No clothing, jewelry, or accessory which is deemed a safety risk is permitted. 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.
• The following are prohibited:
  • Hats, visors, headscarves, rollers, bandanas, caps sweatbands, do-rags
  • Sunglasses
  • Visible tattoos
  • Contact lenses that create an unnatural eye effect (such as “Halloween” contact lenses)
  • Visible body piercing (except ears  and limited to three per ear in the lobe area)
  • Chained wallets, spiked jewelry, mouth grills, or fronts
  • See-through garments; sheer see-through, or mesh see-through garments
  • Tank, halter, tube, strapless or crop, or midriff tops
  • Knit or spandex pants, leggings,  jogging, exercise/yoga, cargo pants or shorts, skinny jeans, pajamas or loungewear
  • Torn, ripped, frayed or cut clothing
  • Flip flops, thongs, soccer sandals, bedroom shoes, heelies or similar type shoes
  • Extreme hair color, such as blue, pink, green, unnatural red, etc. - hair must be a natural shade or tone

Certain school environments or classes may require more restrictive dress due to safety issues, i.e., Career/Technical classes, science labs, physical education. Students are expected to comply with safety guidelines. 

The principal shall have the authority to interpret the dress code and make case-by-case determinations for the appropriateness of dress that is questionable or which is not covered in this policy. The principal may also make exceptions to this uniform and dress code policy for special events such as spirit week and approved school organization or team-affiliated garments. The principal will ultimately decide if the clothing is appropriate.

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

Compliance

Schools should strive for full compliance using positive reinforcement. Corrective action should only be used when all positive measures have been exhausted.

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

Incident #1  Warning, parental contact, and remedy uniform.  Should the remedy require the student to sign out of school, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

Incident #2  Loss of privileges, after-school detention, or ISS

Incident #3  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. Students not adhering to the dress code policy will be considered non-compliant except under the following conditions:

1. Students transferring from out of the district during the first ten (10) calendar days after registration;
2. Students on campus outside of school hours-
3. Principals authorize dress down days or give special permission-
4. Instructors/advisors obtain permission through the principal and require students to dress in uniforms such as band, ROTC, sports teams, etc.

School Colors

Blandford Elementary - Royal Blue
Ebenezer Elementary- Hunter Green
Guyton Elementary - Kelly Green
Marlow Elementary - Maroon/Burgundy
Rincon Elementary - Royal Blue
Sand Hill Elementary - Maroon/Burgundy
South Effingham Elementary - Maroon/Burgundy
Springfield Elementary - Red


Ebenezer Middle - Hunter Green
Effingham County Middle - Navy Blue
South Effingham Middle - Maroon/Burgundy


Effingham County High - Navy Blue
South Effingham High - Maroon/Burgundy

Effingham College & Career Academy
Students may wear their base school's colors listed above, or the ECCA Red

Crossroads Academy and enCompass Academy
Students may wear their base school's colors listed above

Book Bags

Book bags made entirely out of clear plastic or nylon mesh are the only type allowed in Effingham County schools. Book bags made of other materials will be confiscated, including athletic bags and other such accessory bags and cases.

If a student or parent becomes concerned with the weight of a book bag or backpack, the first step should be to review the backpack safety information distributed by the school system to determine if the book bag is the correct type and is being used correctly. (See the “Back2Back pack Basics” information at www.effinghamschools.com in the Student Parent/Handbook Section.) If it is determined that the student is wearing the backpack correctly and carrying only the necessary items and the book bag still weighs more than 20% of the child’s body weight, make an appointment to meet with the student’s teacher(s). (Note: middle and high school students may wish to consult directly with the principal.) If, after meeting with the teacher, it is determined that the student is following the correct guidelines for carrying the book bag properly and safely and it still weighs more than 20% of the child’s body weight, make an appointment with the principal to discuss the use of an acceptable rolling backpack. If the principal approves the use of a rolling book bag, the rolling book bag must be inspected and approved by the principal prior to using it. If the school principal does not approve the use of a rolling book bag, students and parents may request a hearing with the school system’s hardship committee. Parents may also request to purchase home sets of textbooks so their child does not have to carry textbooks back and forth to school. A request form for purchasing textbooks is available at each school. As a safety issue, parents are asked to keep children from hanging items, such as stuffed animals or long ribbons, from their book bags. Parents are also asked to adjust the length (cutting off the excess, if necessary) of straps and drawstrings so that there are no long, dangling pieces. These items are prone to get caught in the doors and seats of buses and could cause injury.