Dress Codes

All students should be permitted to wear the clothing of their choice, regardless of whether it conforms to traditional gender stereotypes, provided that such clothing does not violate the school’s dress code. Dress codes should be gender neutral. Students may dress in accordance with their gender identity and gender expression. School personnel should not enforce a school’s dress code more strictly against transgender and gender nonconforming students. This applies to dress at school as well as at a school’s co- and extra-curricular activities.

Allow the student to dress in accordance with the student’s identified gender for school or other extracurricular activities including prom, graduation, yearbook, or other activities.

Students should be permitted to dress in a manner consistent with the student’s gender identity, subject to any dress code adopted by the educational institution. The dress code should be applied to the student consistent with their gender identity.

Review dress codes to describe what the school considers appropriate clothing without referencing gender.

Old Practice: male: pants and shorts must cover their underwear; female: pants, shirts or dresses must cover their underwear New Practice: ―All outer clothing must completely cover underwear.

• Consider gender neutral dress codes for class or yearbook photos, honor society ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, or dances.
• Review dress codes to describe what the school considers appropriate clothing o Permit all students to wear any clothing that is appropriate for students under the school dress code, regardless of the student’s gender or gender identity. This includes school extracurricular activities, as well as events, such as school dances, choral concerts, the wearing of uniforms, or graduation.
• If a school has two separate gender-specific dress codes, any student should be permitted to dress consistently with the dress code for either gender. So long as the student is compliant with one of the dress codes, the student should not be subject to discipline or a requirement to change clothing on the grounds that the student is wearing the wrong dress code for the student’s gender or gender identity.

Students should have the right to express their gender at school, within the parameters of the school’s dress code, without discrimination or harassment. The school’s dress code should be gender-neutral. In the event that the dress code has differing expectations or practices based on gender, students should be permitted to dress in accordance with their gender identity.

Gender nonconforming students and transgender students experience elevated rates of bullying and harassment based on gender identity or how they express their gender, which can include how they dress. In a recent study, 52 percent of transgender and gender nonconforming students report that they were not allowed to dress in a way that fit their gender identity or expression. While school dress codes need to be inclusive, it is equally important that school staff support transgender and gender nonconforming students and take steps to prevent bullying and harassment of these students during the school day and at school events as well.

All students often use clothing to express many facets of their identity. Clothing choices are informed by ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs and other aspects of identity, including gender identity. Schools routinely take into consideration the religious and cultural expressions of students when establishing dress codes. Schools should similarly take into consideration the expression of gender identity of students.

1. No student should be disciplined for wearing clothing that fails to conform to perceptions of gender based stereotypes.

2. School staff should not pressure or coerce any student into wearing certain attire choices over others that are provided. Here is one example of gender inclusive dress guidelines for a school event: “All students are expected to wear: a) black pants, a white collared shirt and a solid color tie; OR b) a knee-length black dress OR c) a black skirt that is knee length or longer and a white blouse OR c) black dress pants and a white collared shirt or white blouse.”

3. Where students are expected to dress formally, it is best practice to allow students to dress in formal wear that aligns with their gender identity while adhering to a gender inclusive dress code.

Schools may enforce dress codes pursuant to school/district policy. Students should have the right to dress in accordance with their gender identity, within the parameters of the dress code adopted by the school/district. School staff cannot enforce a dress code more strictly against transgender or gender non-conforming students than other students. Dress codes should be general statements that ensure the proper dress for all students.

Students have the right to express their gender at school—within the constraints of the school’s dress code—without discrimination or harassment. School dress codes should be gender­neutral and should not restrict a student’s clothing choices on the basis of gender.

Schools may enforce dress codes, but any dress code must be gender-­‐neutral. Students must have the right to dress in accordance with their gender identity, within the constraints of the dress codes adopted by the school. School staff must not enforce a school’s dress code more strictly against transgender and gender-­‐nonconforming students than other students.