"Baggy Pants Bill" and Dress Codes: Back-To-School Countdown (Day 20)

The Brandon Patch Back-To-School Countdown proceeds with this Day 20 report, offering news of interset as the first day of classes approaches.

Teachers in the Hillsborough County School District go back to school Aug. 15 to prepare for the first day of classes, Aug. 23.

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Time to shop for back-to-school clothing? Looking to opt out of required or voluntary school uniform policies? Not sure what your kid wants to wear is totally cool with school administrators? 

Then keep in mind the following dress–code restrictions for Hillsborough County public school children, as noted in the recently released 2011-12 student handbook.

The stated aim is to have students “dress and groom” in a way that reflects “cleanliness, modesty, safety and good taste.”

Parents and students are encouraged, too, to check with their local schools for additional restrictions.

Meanwhile, all schools operate under the newly adopted “Baggy Pants Bill,” also known as Senate Bill 228, which was signed into law in June.

The new law:

• Bars clothes that expose underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupt the orderly learning environment.
• Allows for students to be disciplined with a verbal warning, a phone call to parents or guardians, removal from extracurricular activities for a period of time or in-school suspension.

Final information about the requirements of this law will be forthcoming when kids go back to school.

In the meantime, the new student handbook notes the following dress-code stipulations for Hillsborough County students:

For students in kindergarten through grade 5:

• Shoes must be securely fastened to the feet, have low-height heels and be suitable for outdoor physical education classes. “Skate tennis shoes” are not allowed.
• A blouse or shirt must cover tube tops, spaghetti straps or clothing that exposes the entire shoulder.
• Underwear cannot be visible.
• The mid-chest area cannot be exposed.
• Mini-skirts, mini-dresses and short shorts are not allowed. Hemlines must be no shorter than fingertip length.
• All pants and shorts must be secured at the waist.
• Hair must be clean and neatly groomed.
• Head covers inside the building are not allowed unless required for religious observance or health-related reasons.
• Garments and jewelry cannot be worn that suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, gang, weapons or alcohol-related wording of graphics or that provoke violence or disruption.
• Wallet chains cannot be worn.
• The student’s general appearance should reflect neatness and good personal hygiene.

For students in grades 6 through 12:

• Shoes must be worn. No “skate tennis shoes” or bedroom slippers.
• A blouse or shirt must cover tube tops, spaghetti straps or clothing that exposes the entire shoulder.
• Clothing is banned that exposes the torso or midriff in the front, back or sides.
• Underwear cannot be visible. Clothing traditionally worn as undergarments or sleepwear cannot be worn as outer garments.
• The mid-chest area cannot be exposed.
• Banned is clothing not properly fastened or that has indecent tears.
• Pants and shorts must be secured at the waist.
• Boys shirts must have sleeves.
• Mini-skirts, mini-dresses and short shorts are not allowed. Hemlines must be not shorter than fingertip length.
• Head covers inside the building are not allowed unless required for religious observance or health-related reasons.
• Garments and jewelry cannot be worn that suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, gang, weapons or alcohol-related wording of graphics or that provoke violence or disruption.
• Wallet chains cannot be worn.

There are consequences for non-compliance with the county’s dress code. They are:

• For first offenses, a conference, a call home to parents or guardians and/or a change into appropriate attire.
• For second offences, the same as for a first offense but also the possibility of detention or “other consequence” determined by the school administrator.
• For third offenses, the same as for a first offense but also the possibility of in-school suspension or “other consequence” determined by the school administrator.
• Fourth and subsequent offenses are considered a "willful disobedience” and could result in an out-of-school suspension.

What about school uniforms?

Schools that have required school uniform policies do so because both parents and teachers have been surveyed and at least three-quarters of each group’s respondents agreed to such a policy. Each school is required to assist a family unable to afford purchase of the school uniforms. If a family requests to opt out of the school uniform policy, the student must abide by the district’s dress code, as noted above.

Likewise, if a school has a voluntary school uniform policy, students who don’t abide by the policy must follow the district’s dress code.

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ABOUT THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN:

This is the 20th posting in a 41-day effort that counts down the days before the opening bell of the 2011-12 school year for the Hillsborough County School District.

Previously posted:

• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 15) — Education Quotes To Consider
• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 16) — Sizer on Adolescence
• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 17) — Bully Prevention and Reporting