Newport News Public Schools Communities Committed to Learning

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Follow-Up Research Uniform Dress Policy
Newport News School Board Work Session
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
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Categories of Student Dress

• Dress Code
• Uniform Dress

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Definitions

• Dress Code a statement of basic guidelines or
  standards of attire deemed appropriate for
  particular organizations or settings
• Less Restrictive Most Restrictive

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Definitions

• Dress Code

• Less Restrictive
• NNPS Policy JICA, Student Dress does not allow
  students to dress, groom, wear or use emblems,
  insignias, badges or other symbols that may be
  disruptive to the operation of the school

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Definitions

• Dress Code

• Less Restrictive
• Examples of Dress Code Standards
• Shirts tucked in (boys)
• No sagging or extreme baggy pants
• Slacks and jeans - traditional, plain, sized to
  the waist
• Clothing - clean and in good condition

• Most Restrictive
• Examples of Dress Code Standards
• Collared shirts - variety of styles, colors,
  fabrics and designs
• Collared polo-styled shirts are acceptable
• No T-shirts, halter-tops, or tank tops permitted.
• No capri pants, sweat pants, or athletic jerseys
  allowed.

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Definitions

• Dress Code

• Most Restrictive
• Slacks traditional, plain, straight-leg, boot
  cut, sized to the waist
• No jeans
• No outerwear worn inside building.
• Dresses and skirts modest in length (no shorter
  than 2 above the bended knee).

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Definitions

• Dress Code

• Less Restrictive
• Jewelry not excessive in length

• Most Restrictive
• No earrings for male students. No nose rings.
• All hair/make-up must be in good taste.
• Hair may not be an odd color.

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Definitions

• Uniform Dress the most restrictive policy which
  prescribes appearance characteristics, length and
  color, as well as requiring the use of selected
  vendors or school approved colors and logos

Less Restrictive Most Restrictive
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Definitions

• Uniforms

• Less Restrictive
• NNPS policy JICAB, Uniforms for Students allows
  individual schools to establish uniform
  requirements for their students

• Most Restrictive
• Typically in place at private and parochial
  schools
• All students in full, like uniforms daily

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Definitions

• Uniforms

• Most Restrictive
• Examples of Uniform Standards
• Navy pants and white collared shirt and neck tie
  uniform regulation issue
• Navy blue cardigan or blazer must always be worn
• Plaid jumper and white collared blouse uniform
  regulation issue
• Tan suede buck or leather shoes black or brown
  Mary Janes or simple tie heels not higher than 1
  inch.
• Single wrist watch
• Stud earrings only no larger than ear lobe

• Less Restrictive
• Examples of Uniform Standards
• Slacks or shorts -navy, khaki, or black
• Shirts (w/collars- no printed or embroidered
  logos) navy, red, white blue or black
• Slacks, skirts, shorts jumpers, skorts in
  navy, khaki, or black
• Shoes or sneakers (plain) white, black brown or
  navy

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School Board Work SessionFollow-Up Suggestions

• Research the experiences of other school
  divisions, particularly in Virginia
• Solicit input from NNPS students and staff

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Experiences ofOther School Divisions

• Chesapeake Public Schools
• VSBA Survey Results

• Some 66 of 135 school divisions responded
• None required student uniforms for entire school
  division
• Four school divisions have a modified mandatory
  uniform policy in place (Greene County
  alternative school Northampton elementary and
  middle schools Danville one middle school and
  Hampton year round schools)

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Experiences ofOther School Divisions

• VSBA Survey Results (continued)

• Five school divisions considered uniform policies
  but abandoned idea due to a lack of community
  support
• Four school divisions indicated that uniforms
  were an option for interested schools
• Two school divisions studied mandatory uniform
  dress but determined that they needed to enforce
  their existing dress codes instead
• Three school divisions are currently considering
  a uniform dress policy

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Experiences ofOther School Divisions

• Divisionwide Mandatory Uniform Dress

• Memphis, TN
• Baltimore, MD
• Long Beach, CA

• San Antonio, TX
• Philadelphia, PA
• Miami Dade County, FL

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Experiences ofOther School Divisions

• Shared Factors among Uniform School Divisions

• All have student populations of over 100,000
• Over 85 of students on Free and Reduced-Price
  Lunch
• All cited exceptionally high percentages of
  student absences, disciplinary problems, and
  drop-out rates
• All had compelling need to move beyond school
  improvement initiatives to major divisionwide
  reform
• Uniforms considered as one of their last resorts
  or intervening measures

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Input from NNPS Students and Staff

• Middle and High School Student Advisory Group on
  Education (SAGE) representatives
• NNPS Principals

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Board Discussion

• What is the purpose that we hope to achieve?
• Will uniform dress or a stricter dress code help
  us to achieve purpose?
• What do we want to know from parents?
• What hard and soft costs are we willing to bear?