Dress Code
The following is the most current Exeter Unified School Board policy regarding school dress code. If you have any questions regarding it please contact the school office at 592-2141.
Exeter USD BP 5132 Students Dress And Grooming
1. Exeter Public Schools believes that all students should wear clothing to school that fits well, is clean and neat, reflects pride in oneself, is conductive to the learning process and demonstrates respect for school. It is the mission of the school district not only to provide academic education but also to provide education in morals, manners, dress, and grooming because these are elements of good citizenship. Research has shown that student dress and appearance affect student attitudes and conduct. These guidelines are intended to define "appropriate student attire" and personal grooming. Their purpose is to prevent disruption of the classroom atmosphere, enhance classroom decorum, eliminate disturbances among other students so as not to interfere with the educational process. It is also intended to help protect the health and welfare of the individual student.
The Board recognizes that consistency of enforcement is essential. Therefore, it is the duty and responsibility of all employees to enforce the following guidelines.
2. All students shall abide by the following:
a. Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed.
b. Shoes must be worn at all times. Elementary (K-8) age students must wear shoes with a back strap. Elementary (K-8) age students may not wear high-heeled shoes.
c. Commercial lettering or printing will be allowed on shirts and sweatshirts as long as it is acceptable for school attire. Crude or vulgar printing or pictures depicting drugs, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or those that are sexually suggestive are not acceptable.
d. Presence of any apparel, head gear, jewelry, accessory, notebook, writing on body, tattoo, body piercing, hair color or other manner of grooming which, by nature of its color, arrangement, trademark or any other attribute, denotes membership in gangs, or which advocates racial, ethnic or religious prejudice, drug use, violence, intimidation or disruptive behavior or disrupts the learning environment is prohibited.
e. Presence of any apparel, jewelry, body piercing or accessory which creates a potential safety hazard to the student or others is prohibited.
f. Attire which may be used as a weapon is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, chains, wallet chains, and items with spikes or studs.
g. Caps, and other types of head coverings/bandanas will not be worn or displayed by either males or females on school property including buses, vans, etc. during the normal school day. Students who participate in school-sponsored co-curricular and extracurricular activities may not wear or display hats, caps, and other types of head coverings/bandanas unless the hat is a part of the uniform.
(Exceptions may be provided for religious practice or during special event activities as designated by the school site principal.)
h. Hats may be worn outside only and solely for the purpose of sun protection. Hats shall be made of pliable canvas material with a 3 - 5 inch brim around the entire circumference of the hat. They may not sport an insignia, other than the school insignia. Hats, by nature of the color, arrangement, trademark, or any other attribute, that denote membership in gangs, or which advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice, drug use, violence, intimidation or disruptive behavior are prohibited.
i. During winter weather, the following head coverings may be allowed with the principal's permission only when the student is outside:
Stocking caps that cover head and ears only, ear muffs, hoods on sweatshirts or jackets
j. All head coverings may never be worn indoors or on buses, vans, etc., during the normal school day and must be stored when not being worn.
k. All clothing shall be within the bounds of decency and good taste as appropriate for school. Garments shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times and shall not be disruptive to the educational process.
(1) Garment length shall be within bounds of decency and good taste. Garments must cover underwear when sitting, standing or bending. In addition, the length must meet the following criteria for students in grades 6 - 12:
(a) Shorts, skorts, and culottes must have an inseam of 3.5 inches or more. (This is approximately the length of a standard-sized computer disk.)
(b) Skirts and dresses, including slits and open seams, must be no shorter than 4 inches from the top of the knee while standing.
(2) No bare midriffs - a blouse or shirt must be long enough so that at no time the midriff shows. Straps must be at least 1 inch in width. No tube or halter, low-cut, "off the shoulder" or revealing tops will be allowed. Tank tops/sleeveless undershirts (Basketball jersey style with scooped front, back and armholes) are allowed if worn with a t-shirt.
(3) Undergarments shall be worn and covered at all times.
(4) No garment may be worn that is cut-off, ragged, torn, or unhemmed. Clothing which is manufactured with fraying is permissible.
(5) No "see through" or "fish net" type of garment may be worn unless worn over a garment which meets all dress code standards.
(6) All pants, shorts, or coveralls must be fitted and worn at the waist. "Waist' is defined as the area at or above the top of the hips. Straps or coveralls must be properly clipped at the shoulders. Pants, shorts, and overalls are too baggy when the two pant side seams of an individual pant leg are brought to the front of the mid-thigh and the side seams touch.
2. All students shall abide by the following:
a. Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed.
b. Shoes must be worn at all times. Elementary (K-8) age students must wear shoes with a back strap. Elementary (K-8) age students may not wear high-heeled shoes.
c. Commercial lettering or printing will be allowed on shirts and sweatshirts as long as it is acceptable for school attire. Crude or vulgar printing or pictures depicting drugs, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or those that are sexually suggestive are not acceptable.
d. Presence of any apparel, head gear, jewelry, accessory, notebook, writing on body, tattoo, body piercing, hair color or other manner of grooming which, by nature of its color, arrangement, trademark or any other attribute, denotes membership in gangs, or which advocates racial, ethnic or religious prejudice, drug use, violence, intimidation or disruptive behavior or disrupts the learning environment is prohibited.
e. Presence of any apparel, jewelry, body piercing or accessory which creates a potential safety hazard to the student or others is prohibited.
f. Attire which may be used as a weapon is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, chains, wallet chains, and items with spikes or studs.
g. Caps, and other types of head coverings/bandanas will not be worn or displayed by either males or females on school property including buses, vans, etc. during the normal school day. Students who participate in school-sponsored co-curricular and extracurricular activities may not wear or display hats, caps, and other types of head coverings/bandanas unless the hat is a part of the uniform.
(Exceptions may be provided for religious practice or during special event activities as designated by the school site principal.)
h. Hats may be worn outside only and solely for the purpose of sun protection. Hats shall be made of pliable canvas material with a 3 - 5 inch brim around the entire circumference of the hat. They may not sport an insignia, other than the school insignia. Hats, by nature of the color, arrangement, trademark, or any other attribute, that denote membership in gangs, or which advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice, drug use, violence, intimidation or disruptive behavior are prohibited.
i. During winter weather, the following head coverings may be allowed with the principal's permission only when the student is outside:
Stocking caps that cover head and ears only, ear muffs, hoods on sweatshirts or jackets
j. All head coverings may never be worn indoors or on buses, vans, etc., during the normal school day and must be stored when not being worn.
k. All clothing shall be within the bounds of decency and good taste as appropriate for school. Garments shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times and shall not be disruptive to the educational process.
(1) Garment length shall be within bounds of decency and good taste. Garments must cover underwear when sitting, standing or bending. In addition, the length must meet the following criteria for students in grades 6 - 12:
(a) Shorts, skorts, and culottes must have an inseam of 3.5 inches or more. (This is approximately the length of a standard-sized computer disk.)
(b) Skirts and dresses, including slits and open seams, must be no shorter than 4 inches from the top of the knee while standing.
(2) No bare midriffs - a blouse or shirt must be long enough so that at no time the midriff shows. Straps must be at least 1 inch in width. No tube or halter, low-cut, "off the shoulder" or revealing tops will be allowed. Tank tops/sleeveless undershirts (Basketball jersey style with scooped front, back and armholes) are allowed if worn with a t-shirt.
(3) Undergarments shall be worn and covered at all times.
(4) No garment may be worn that is cut-off, ragged, torn, or unhemmed. Clothing which is manufactured with fraying is permissible.
(5) No "see through" or "fish net" type of garment may be worn unless worn over a garment which meets all dress code standards.
(6) All pants, shorts, or coveralls must be fitted and worn at the waist. "Waist' is defined as the area at or above the top of the hips. Straps or coveralls must be properly clipped at the shoulders. Pants, shorts, and overalls are too baggy when the two pant side seams of an individual pant leg are brought to the front of the mid-thigh and the side seams touch.
l. Coaches and teachers in classes such as shop, P.E., etc., or administrators at Kaweah High School and Community Day School may impose more stringent requirements than the above consistent with health, educational and safety needs of the particular school program, sport and/or class.
3. Violations of the dress code will result in the following actions:
First Incident: Parent/guardian will be notified, student will change into acceptable garments if immediately available or be provided with temporary attire until the school day is complete. (If a parent brings a change of clothing during the school day, the student will be allowed to change at break or at lunch.) Loss of class time for dress code violations is to be minimized.
Second Incident: Parent/guardian will be notified; student will change into acceptable garments if immediately available or be provided with temporary attire until the school day is complete. (If a parent brings a change of clothing during the school day, the student will be allowed to change at break or at lunch.) Loss of class time for dress code violations is to be minimized. One full day of Responsibility Center or appropriate alternative consequences will be assigned or a student will be required to perform community service on school grounds during non-school hours in lieu of suspension.
Third Incident: The student will be suspended from school for one day or a student will be required to perform community service on school grounds during non-school hours in lieu of suspension.
Fourth Incident: Student will be referred to Student Review Board or Student Study Team.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
32281 School safety plans
35183 School dress codes; uniforms
35183.5 Sun-protective clothing
48907 Student exercise of free expression
49066 Grades; effect of physical education class apparel
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
302 Pupils to be neat and clean on entering school
COURT DECISIONS
Marvin H. Jeglin et al v. San Jacinto Unified School District et al, (C.D. Cal. 1993)
827 F.Supp. 1459
Arcadia Unified School District v. California Department of Education, (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 251
Hartzell v. Connell, (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 899
Policy EXETER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: February 13, 2013 Exeter, California
updated: October 11, 2017 Exeter, California
re...EDUCATION CODE
32281 School safety plans
35183 School dress codes; uniforms
35183.5 Sun-protective clothing
48907 Student exercise of free expression
49066 Grades; effect of physical education class apparel
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
302 Pupils to be neat and clean on entering school
COURT DECISIONS
Marvin H. Jeglin et al v. San Jacinto Unified School District et al, (C.D. Cal. 1993)
827 F.Supp. 1459
Arcadia Unified School District v. California Department of Education, (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 251
Hartzell v. Connell, (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 899
Policy EXETER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: February 13, 2013 Exeter, California
updated: October 11, 2017 Exeter, California