Alameda City USD              
Administrative Regulation

AR 5132 
Students

 Dress And Grooming

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 district policy and regulations.  These school dress codes shall be regularly reviewed.
(cf. 0420 - School Plans/Site Councils)

The following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities:

1.	Shoes must be worn at all times.  Sandals must have heel straps.  Thongs or backless shoes or sandals are not acceptable.

2.	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.

3.	Hats, caps and other head coverings shall not be worn indoors.

4.	Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times.  See-through or fish-net fabrics, halter tops, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops, bare midriffs and skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh are prohibited.  

5.	Gym shorts may be not be worn in classes other than physical education. 

6.	Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed.  Hair may not be sprayed by any coloring that would drip when wet.

7.	Dress, grooming or accessories which are considered obscene, libelous, slanderous, unsafe, dangerous, a health hazard or create a substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school/school-sponsored event will not be allowed.

8.	Dress, grooming or accessories which contain gang-related symbols or display gang-related colors or clothing which denote gang affiliation including apparel which is identified by the police as gang related will not be allowed.

9.	Tattoos which are offensive, obscene or gang-related are prohibited.

Coaches and teachers may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the special needs of certain sports and/or classes.

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.  (Education Code 49066)
(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)

The principal, staff, students and parent/guardians at each school may establish reasonable dress and grooming regulations for times when students are engaged in extracurricular or other special school activities.  

Gang-Related Apparel

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.  (Education Code 32281)

Because gang-related symbols are constantly changing, definitions of gang-related apparel shall be reviewed at least once each semester and updated whenever related information is received. 

Uniforms

In schools where a schoolwide uniform is required, the principal, staff and parents/guardians of the individual school shall jointly select the specific uniform to be worn.  (Education Code 35183)

At least six months before a school uniform policy is implemented, the principal or designee shall notify parents/guardians of this policy.  (Education Code 35183)  

Parents/guardians shall also be informed of their right to have their child exempted.

The principal or designee shall also repeat this notification at the end of the school year so that parents/guardians are reminded before school clothes are likely to be purchased.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish criteria for determining student eligibility for financial assistance when purchasing uniforms.

Regulation	ALAMEDA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved:  December 10, 1996	Alameda, California