• Dress Code (Policy 5500.04)

      In General

      The dress and grooming of Pinellas County Public Schools’ students shall contribute to the health and safety of the individual, promote a positive educational environment, and not disrupt the educational activities and processes of the school. These standards of dress and grooming apply to all students in the public schools of Pinellas County, unless a specific exemption is granted by the principal. Apparel that disrupts educational activities and processes of the school will result in the removal of the student from the regular school environment until acceptable apparel can be secured for the student. The administration will be the final judge about whether a student’s clothing is appropriate for school or whether it will create an environmental climate that is distracting to learning. Principals, faculty, and staff members will enforce the dress code. Failure to comply with the dress code will be handled similarly to other disciplinary infractions. Non-compliance may result in consequences including but not limited to detention, in-school suspension and loss of eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

      Pursuant to F.S. 1006.07, wearing clothing that exposes underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupts the learning environment will have the following specific consequences. In addition to these consequences, the violation shall be corrected before the student is allowed back in the regular school environment:

      1. For a first offense, a student shall be given a verbal warning and the school principal (or designee) shall call the student’s parent or guardian.
      2. For a second offense, the student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for a period of time not to exceed 5 days and the school principal (or designee) shall meet with the student’s parent or guardian.
      3. For a third or subsequent offense, a student shall receive an in-school suspension pursuant to F.S. 1(5) for a period not to exceed 3 days, the student is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to exceed 30 days, and the school principal (or designee) shall call the student’s parent or guardian and send the parent or guardian a written letter regarding the student’s in-school suspension and ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

       

      Individual schools may have additional dress and grooming requirements, if recommended by administrators, faculty, and staff, and if approved by a majority of School Advisory Council (SAC) members. Notice of amended requirements must be provided to all parents in a timely manner through at least one (1) written or verbal communication and published in a document, such as the school handbook or student planner.

      Requirements for student dress in all schools
      are listed below:

      1. All clothing must be appropriately sized, securely fastened and cover midriff, back, sides, and all undergarments at all times. For example, suspenders should be over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear exposed.
      2. Clothing must cover the body from one armpit across to the other armpit and down to mid-thigh. All tops must have sleeves and cover the entire shoulder.
      3. Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.
      4. See-through, revealing, or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meets the minimum requirements of this dress code.
      5. Gang paraphernalia, garments and/or jewelry, tattoos, or other insignias, which display or suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, alcohol, or tobacco-related wording/graphics or may tend to provoke violence or disruption in school shall not be worn.
      6. Clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or any other characteristics protected by federal or state law or Board policy.
      7. Any articles of clothing or jewelry that may cause injury including, but not limited to, items with spikes, or sharp objects, wallet chains, and heavy link chains are not allowed.
      8. Students must wear shoes that are safe and appropriate for the learning environment. Inappropriate footwear includes, but is not limited to, roller skates, skate shoes, and bedroom slippers.
      9. Form fitting leotard/spandex type clothing is not allowed unless proper outer garments cover to mid-thigh length or longer.
      10. Clothing and footwear traditionally designed as sleepwear shall not be worn.
      11. Head gear, including but not limited to, caps, hats, bandanas, sweatbands and/or sunglasses shall not be worn indoors on campus unless permitted by the principal for religious or medical reasons. Students may wear sunglasses, hats, or other sun-protective wear while outdoors during school hours, however these articles must not violate this dress code.
      12. Individual schools are expected to use the state and district dress and grooming guidelines as minimum standards; any adjustments may be made upon approval of the School Advisory Council (SAC). The principal at each school reserves the right to determine what appropriate dress is for the school as detailed in these minimum standards.
      13. If the school has a mandatory school uniform policy, the student must adhere to those requirements.