School Dress Code Essay

891 Words4 Pages
There are laws that refer to compulsory education for all children living in the United States to attend a public or state-accredited private school. There are also laws that prevent schools from segregating students based on race; however some states and districts attempt to work around these laws. There are exemptions for homeschooling and online courses, and each state may have different requirements in reference to these laws, such as: age range for which mandatory attendance is required, dress codes, prayer or religious courses in schools, graduation requirements, and excessive absenteeism penalties. State compulsory laws require children in New Hampshire between the ages of 6 and 18 to be enrolled in school. Even though truancy laws…show more content…
Most school districts develop dress codes to prevent unnecessary distractions among students, but when doing so must assure that these codes do not violate the students’ constitutional rights. The first school dress code law was established in 1969 by high school students in Des Moines, Iowa. These students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. The case, Tinker v. Des Moines School District, went to the Supreme Court. The court decided that schools may enforce dress codes if there is a legitimate concern that clothing worn by students could be disruptive to others, the learning environment, or violate the rights of other students. Most states allow school districts to create and enforce dress codes that promote a safe school environment, and to encourage uniformity of student dress. Most dress codes address and prevent the wearing of clothing that promotes the following: provocative clothing (short skirts, shorts, see through tops), gang related clothing and/or colors, suggestively themed t-shirts, alcohol or drug related themed clothing, sexually explicit clothing, or sagging pants. While some district’s dress codes have been challenged based on religious freedom of expression, both the Constitution and most state laws protect a student’s right to wear religious attire in
Open Document