With the 2021 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday beginning Saturday, July 31, prompting parents to take care of their students' shopping needs, here is what you need to know about Volusia County Schools' new dress code.
After a unanimous vote on Tuesday, July 27, by the School Board, uniforms are no longer required to be worn by students. VCS had established a uniform dress code in 2016 by way of a 4-1 vote, with only current Board Chair Linda Cuthbert voting against. She's the only board member who voted in 2016 that remains in office.
School Board Member Ruben Colon said the uniform dress code was supposed to decrease bullying and improve students' academic performances, but that it did not accomplish either; instead, it caused administrators to issue more referrals due to dress code infractions.
“Looking at all of that and seeing where our focus is, which is teaching and learning, in order to teach, the kids got to be in class, and in order to learn, the kids got to be in class," Colon said.
Uniforms didn't work in Volusia, and by setting an "attainable standard" via the new updated policy, Colon said the district will see an improvement on this front.
Cuthbert said she had always been against uniforms because of the enforcement issues they involved. That's why she said she insisted on streamlining the district's new policy.
“If it’s easier to enforce, it’s easier for our kids to follow," Cuthbert said. "It’s easier on the referral list. We just want everything covered so the attention is on the textbook and the teacher and the learning, and not in ‘what do you have on?’"
Based on the district's new updated policy 217, here is what your student can and cannot wear:
Allowed:
- Upper garments that are long enough to clearly overlap the belt line or stay tucked in during normal movement throughout the day.
- Pants, shorts or skirts that reach at least the mid-thigh. Waistband must be worn and secured between the hips and the waist, covering all undergarments. For children in sixth grade and above, if a pant has visible belt loops, it must be worn with a belt. Pants cannot have tears.
- Shoes that "are safe and appropriate for the learning environment." No flip flops, and students have to wear athletic shoes in all PE classes.
- Coats, jacket, sweaters and other outer garments when necessary due to weather. If the jacket or coat has a good, the student can't have it on while inside. They can't be "overly baggy."
Not allowed:
- Hats, caps, visors, hoods, bandanas, sunglasses or other head gear, unless a student receives administrative permission due to a medical or religious necessity, or an exception made for a school-related event.
- Clothing (including bandanas), jewelry, haircuts, tattoos, buttons or other attire that is offensive, suggestive, disruptive or indecent. This includes clothing associated with gangs; clothing that promotes use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol or violence; and clothing associated with the discrimination on the basis of age, color, disabilities, national origin, marital status, race, religion or sex.
- Clothing that exposes the torso or upper thighs. This includes see-through garments, mini-skirts, mini-dresses, halters, backless shirts or dresses, tube tops or tank tops without a shirt or blouse over them, and spaghetti strap shirts without a shirt or blouse over them. Shirts and blouses may not be tied at the midriff.
- Clothing or outer garments "traditionally designed as undergarments." The district lists boxer shorts, underwear, tights and hosiery as examples. This also includes pajamas and other sleepwear.
- Lastly, clothing or footwear "that is construed by the principal, or designee, as hazardous or dangerous to the health or safety of the student or others or which might reasonably lead the principal or designee to forecast substantial disruption of, or material interference with school activities."
The sales tax holiday runs through Aug. 9.
