Dress Code (BP 5132) The Board of Education believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment. The Board expects students to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to wear clothes that are suitable for the school activities in which they participate. Students’ clothing must not present a health or safety hazard or a distraction, which would interfere with the educational process. Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about dress and grooming standards at the beginning of the school year and whenever these standards are revised. A student who violates these standards shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. In cooperation with teachers, students and parents/guardians, the Principal or designee shall establish school rules governing student dress and grooming which are consistent with law, Board of Education policy and administrative regulations. These school dress codes shall be regularly reviewed. Each school shall allow students to wear sun-protective clothing, including but not limited to hats, for outdoor use during the school day. In addition, the following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities: ❏ Shoes must be worn at all times. Sandals must have heel straps. Thongs or backless shoes or sandals are not acceptable. ❏ Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc.) shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane or sexually suggestive; which bear drug, alcohol or tobacco company advertising, promotions and likenesses; or which advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice. ❏ Hats, caps and other head coverings shall not be worn indoors. ❏ Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. See-through or fishnet fabrics, halter tops, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops, bare midriffs and skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh are prohibited. ❏ Gym shorts may not be worn in classes other than physical education. ❏ Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed. Hair may not be sprayed by any coloring that would drip when wet. 645 Wool Creek Drive, San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 283-6000 info@fmsd.org 23 ❏ Dark glasses shall not be worn indoors, except for valid medical reasons authorized by the administration and verified in writing by a physician. ❏ Any clothing, apparel or attire which could be used as a weapon, or could be damaging to school property, including but not limited to, steel-toed boots, chains, items with spikes or studs, etc. is prohibited. Coaches and teachers may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports and/or classes. Guidelines may also be adjusted to meet student health needs, to accommodate for religious obligations (observances), as well as other special circumstances as authorized by site administration. No grade of a student participating in a physical education class shall be adversely affected if the student does not wear standardized physical education apparel because of circumstances beyond the student’s control. The Principal, staff, students and parents/guardians at each school may establish reasonable dress and grooming regulations for times when students are engaged in extracurricular or other special school activities. The Principal, staff and parents/guardians at a school may establish a reasonable dress code that prohibits students from wearing gang-related apparel when there is evidence of a gang presence that disrupts or threatens to disrupt the school’s activities. Such a dress code may be included as part of the school safety plan and must be presented to the Board for approval. The Board shall approve the plan upon determining that it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the school’s students. At individual schools that have a dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel at school or school activities, the Principal, staff and parents/guardians participating in the development of the school safety plan shall define “gang-related apparel” and shall limit this definition to apparel that reasonably could be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school environment if it were worn or displayed on a school campus.