The Madison County Board of Education believes that good grooming and personal appearance are essential elements in the teaching and learning process. Students are expected to dress in such a manner to ensure their health and safety. Grooming and dress must not constitute a distraction or interfere with the educational opportunity of other students.
Dress, unnatural color of the skin, or other parts of the body, that draw excessive or unnecessary attention to the extent it is disruptive, potentially disruptive, or suggestive of disruption or violence, are not allowed.
Dress suggestive of potential violence, disruption, physical harm to employees, students, or visitors, is prohibited. Principals and other administrators have the authority to use discretionary judgement to prohibit such dress based on past or current circumstances.
Unless otherwise specifically stated or addressed, rules and regulations contained in the Dress Code apply to normal school hours. However, such rules and regulations may be enforced at any school function or activity where the wearing of such dress is not appropriate for the type activity or is determined to be potentially disruptive or dangerous.
Rules and regulations in the dress code apply to all students, unless exceptions are granted due to a student’s disability, medical condition, or other exceptions approved by the principal.
The principal or his/her designee has the authority to determine inappropriate dress and violations of this policy.
Any student violating the dress code may be suspended for the remainder of the day.
Students must comply with the following guidelines:
Coats and Outer Garments
* Coats and outer garments are not to be worn inside the buildings,
and are to be taken immediately to a locker and remain there until authorized
dismissal from school.
Jewelry and Body Piercing
* Except for normal piercing of the ears and wearing of earrings that
do not distract or draw unnecessary attention, wearing of other body piercing
items on any part of the body is not allowed. Wallet chains and /
or oversized chains are not allowed at school or on the school buses.
Pants, Shorts, Dresses and Skirts
* Appropriate dress for students must be worn that does not reveal
the body in an inappropriate manner, e.g. clothing must not be too tight,
too short, bare at the midriff or sides. Sundresses, off the shoulder
tops, spaghetti straps, tank tops, sheer or see-through clothing, and clothing
with holes may not be worn.
* The length of the pants should not be such that they touch the floor
when standing.
* Pants should not be excessively baggy, sagging, or otherwise obviously
distracting and concealing.
* Shorts, skirts, and dresses too short in length are not allowed.
A general guide to length is that the item should fall below the tips of
the fingers when arms are fully extended to the side; however, due to physical
differences in some students, this guide may mean some items are too short.
* Athletic Shorts and sweatpants are not acceptable.
Skirts, Blouses, and Tops
* Clothing must not include pictures, writings, symbols, etc., promoting,
acknowledging, or suggesting drugs, tobacco products, alcohol, sexual activities,
gangs, groups, individuals, or activities that would be considered potentially
dangerous, disruptive, or hazardous to the student, to other students,
or to the school environment.
* Skirts, blouses and tops should be "tucked in"; however, those that
do not extend below the top of the pockets may be worn "untucked."
Such garments are not to be too tight, or bare at the midriff or sides.