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Case Study: Dress Code

Betty Graham Young

Grand Canyon University: EAD 519

December 1, 2019
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Part 1: Case Analysis

1. Brief summary of the case: This case involves a high school of 2400 students. Teachers are
frustrated that students constantly violate the dress code and disregard the policy regarding
wearing their student ID badges at all times during the school day. Although the school
enforces policies of which the students violate, there has not been any change. It seems that
the students just do not care. The assistant principal is tasked with updating the dress code
policy for the upcoming school year and providing consequences along with ensuring
students wear ID cards on a lanyard at all times.
 Identify the issues to be resolved: a) student violation of dress code, b) students not
wearing their ID badges, c) outdated dress code policy
 Stakeholders involved in the issues: Students, Teachers, Administration, District Policy-
makers
 One or two existing laws or court rulings that relate to the issues: Palmer v.
Waxahachie Independent School District
 District policies that relate to the issues: DPS Board Policy 6410:  Clothing may not be
worn in such a manner as to reveal underwear, cleavage, or bare skin between the upper
chest and mid-thigh  Sleeveless shirts must be 4 fingers wide. No spaghetti straps, strapless
tops, halter tops, see through or mesh garments. No crop tops are allowed or other shirts that
have midriff section exposed.  Pants must be worn at the waist—no sagging pants for guys
or girls.  Skirts and shorts shorter must be mid-thigh in length.  No holes in pants above the
knee – even if student is wearing something underneath  No headbands or scarves can be
worn in school.  No handkerchiefs/bandanas of any style or color are allowed to be worn in
the school. 22  Hats, caps, hood, sweat bands, bandannas, or other headwear may not be
worn in the school building  No clothing or any item with pictures of guns, drugs, alcohol,
gang symbols, sexual connotations, or offensive language will be allowed on school campus.
 The principal may make reasonable accommodations to the policy based upon a student’s
religious beliefs or medical conditions.
 Possible solutions to the issues: (a) Student violators are required to attend study hall
regardless of their GPA. They will design and present PowerPoints related to the policy. (b)
Juniors and Seniors will have their off-campus passes revoked. Repeat offenders will have
their parking passes revoked. (c) Relax the dress code. (d) OSS for repeat offenders (e)
Restorative Intervention Center
 The solutions chosen to resolve the issues: All of the above
 Action steps (2-5) for implementing your solutions, including a timeline for each step:
(1) The updated dress code policy will be written and submitted to the district for approval at
the end of June. (2) The district will have responded no later than the second week in July.
(3) The updated dress code policy will be included in the 2020 – 2021 Parent and Student
Handbook.
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 Potential moral and legal consequences of each solution: Violation of First Amendment
rights. Perceived discrimination based on gender, size/physique, or race. Accusations of
sexual harassment.
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Dress codes can be a very delicate subject, especially with regards to high school students.

During this year alone, there have been over 2,000 dress code violations and over 2,500 ID card

violations. These issues are exasperating given that there are only 2400 students. Not only have I

been charged with updating the dress code policy to include consequences, I have also been

tasked with ensuring that students wear their ID badges on lanyards throughout the school day.

Students become argumentative when teachers approach them for dress code violations thus

ignoring them.

If any policy, whether dress code or any other, staff buy-in is essential. Oftentimes, male

staff are apprehensive when it involves female dress code issues. This is understandable as it

could potentially result in a complaint of sexual harassment. In these cases, I would advise my

male staff members to seek the assistance of a female staff member, or ask me. But again, all

staff must enforce the rules in order for them to yield effective results.

Several schools in Wake County have relaxed the dress code a bit in an effort to reduce the

amount of these types of referrals. I would do the same when writing the new policy as times

have certainly changed since ten years ago. Since the new dress code and ID badge policies will

directly affect the students, they will be asked to share their thoughts through a survey on what

they think the consequences should be. I believe this will also bring awareness on the importance

of the two as well. However, there are consequences that will be written in the policy that can

definitely be tweaked to include student ideas.

I would definitely be careful not to violate a student’s right to free speech and expression

when determining the dress code violations. Moreover, consideration to cultural norms regarding

wearing ID badges is essential. In the case of Palmer v. Waxahachie Independent School District
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A student was barred from wearing a shirt that read, “Freedom of Speech” on the front and First

Amendment on the back. School officials argued that policy prohibits students from wearing any

clothing with printed messages unless approval is given. The Supreme Court refused to hear the

case giving no reason for it. Penalties for dress code violations and for students not wearing their

ID badges during the school day are as follows:

A. Attend study hall regardless of GPA. They will design and present PowerPoints related to the

policy which will include reasoning and importance of adherence.

B. Juniors and Seniors will have their off-campus passes revoked after the third violation. After

the fourth violation, prom privileges and parking passes may be revoked.

C. Habitual violations could result in students receiving out-of-school suspension.

I have stated ways that I would handle the issues involved in this case study. However, I

believe that when expectations are understood and standards are established, issues as such

would be almost nonexistent.

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References

Durham Public School Parent and Student Handbook. Retrieved from http://www.dpsnc.net

Richey, W. 2010. Christian Science Monitor. Supreme Court Refuses to Challenge

School Dress Code. Retrieved from https://www.csmonitor.com/