LISD Dress Code

DRESS AND GROOMING

The district’s dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, prevent disruption, and minimize safety hazards. The dress code must be adhered to anytime students are on campus during the school day.  In the interest of good grooming, students are expected to be neat and clean.

The Lovejoy Independent School District is committed to providing an educational experience for each student that is second to none. Therefore, the dress and grooming guidelines should serve to create a school environment that is appropriately serious for school, but not so rigid that it causes a disturbance for adolescent learners. The dress and grooming guidelines should facilitate the District’s primary mission of providing a maximum learning experience (providing a superior education) for all students. The campus principals and the teachers must have sufficient latitude to exercise professional judgment in determining which dress and grooming choices are within the guidelines and which are a violation of those standards.  The following guidelines are provided to assist the parent and student in choosing appropriate dress for the school environment.

Efforts are being made by LISD to ensure the highest standards of performance for all LISD stakeholders and to promote a safe and secure environment that is free from the perception of fear, threat, or danger. The school environment will not be the appropriate place to test or display extreme styles in fashion or hairstyle. Also, as we prepare the leaders of tomorrow, we want to introduce them to the realities of personal presentation and first impressions in the world they will face following graduation.

The Dress/Grooming Code is intended to set clear limits for students, while still allowing students the freedom to have a variety of choices.  The cooperation of parents and students along with the consistent and fair enforcement of this policy by teachers and administrators are essential to the effectiveness of these guidelines.

It is prescribed that students come to school in appropriate attire that portrays an excitement to learn and develop, and that also establishes the standard for their roles as ambassadors of Sloan Creek Middle School and the Lovejoy Graduate Profile.

The following modes of dress or grooming are strictly prohibited:

Clothing

1. Clothing, including t-shirts, which displays sex, violence, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, death, gang or hate slogans or pictures.
2. Short shorts, skirts (must be of moderate length and appropriate for stairs and sitting).
3. Pants, shorts, and skirts worn below the waist (“sagging” garments are not acceptable).  In general, pants should be worn at the natural waistline and worn with a belt if made for a belt.  Pants that are designed to be worn below the natural waistline may be acceptable if they do not show underwear or skin between the top of the pants and the waistline.
4. No underwear or skin should be showing below the waistline.
5. Trench coats or dusters.
6. Underwear as outerwear, exposed underwear or no underwear.
7. Exposed midriff or cleavage.  If exposed in any activity (sitting, standing, walking, leaning over), then the clothing is prohibited (crop-style tops will require a shirt under them).
8. See-through shirts (e.g., thin or mesh).
9. Spaghetti straps, tank tops, basketball jerseys (unless worn over an appropriate garment, such as an acceptable t-shirt).
10. Oversize, or extremely long baggy jeans (pants with pant legs that totally cover or hide the shoes are inappropriate).
11. Leggings without appropriate clothing that extends over and covers the hips.
12. Bare feet.
13. Chains on clothing or wallets, or chains worn as necklaces (refers to chains that are sufficiently heavy that they could be used as a weapon).
14. Any clothing or style that is disruptive in the judgment of the principal is      inappropriate.

Grooming

1. Non-natural colored hair (green, blue, purple, orange, cherry-red, etc.).
2. Hats, caps, sunglasses (worn inside).
3. Hairstyles that are disruptive (head and facial). Beards and mustaches are not allowed and students should be clean-shaven.
4. Bandannas, hairnets, skull caps.
5. Body piercing jewelry (other than jewelry in the ears).
6. Jewelry, such as swastikas, pentagrams, spoons or other drug-related items.
7. Heavy or spiked jewelry (e.g., dog collars, heavy chains).
8. Writing on body (body paint).
9. Tattoos with disruptive, profane or lewd pictures or writing.
10. All extreme hairstyles and body art that is disruptive.

In order to exercise an exception to the District's dress and grooming guidelines, a student's parent or legal guardian must complete a form requesting an exception to the campus administrator for approval.  An exception only may be exercised by a student after approval from the campus administrator.  The District will not substantially burden a student's free exercise of religion, unless the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.

It is the responsibility of the teachers and campus administrators to enforce the dress code policy.  It is important that the dress code is dealt with in a consistent manner, and reflects the community standards and is age appropriate. The school expects parents to be partners on the dress code and monitor student dress before they leave for school.  While there may be differences of opinion regarding the appropriateness of a student's attire, the ultimate decision lies with the building administrator.

If the principal determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school.  If not corrected, the student will be assigned to in-school suspension for the remainder of the day, until the problem is corrected, or unit a parent or designee brings an acceptable change of clothing to the school.  Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.