From the ECS State Policy Database School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary TN Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Requires local boards of education to adopt dress codes for professional employees. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB2222.pdf Title: H.B. 2222 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov TN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Prohibits students from wearing, while on the grounds of a public school during the regular school day, clothing that exposes underwear or body parts in an indecent manner that disrupts the learning environment. Directs LEAs to specify discipline under dress code. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/SB3558.pdf Title: S.B. 3558 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov DE Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Requires the Department of Education to promulgate uniform regulations related to school discipline to provide consistency across all districts and charter schools. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+42?Opendocument Title: H.B. 42 Source: http://legis.delaware.gov/ AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Requires districts to prohibit the wearing of clothing that exposes underwear, buttocks, or the breast of a female student. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Bills/HB1936.pdf Title: H.B. 1936 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ GA Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Provides for a nonbinding, advisory referendum in November 2008 for residents of the DeKalb County School System regarding whether school uniforms should be required for students in grades K-5. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb712.pdf Title: H.B. 712 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us/ UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 This bill: provides definitions; modifies findings of the Legislature; provides statutory policy requirements for school uniform policies; and modifies school uniform policy adoption procedures for charter schools. Authorizes schools to require uniforms, provided that the policy protects students' free exercise of religious beliefs; specifies whether the uniform policy is voluntary or mandatory for students; specifies whether or not the uniform policy has an opt-out provision; and includes a provision for financial assistance to families who cannot afford to purchase a required uniform, which may include: the school providing school uniforms to students; the school making used school uniforms available to students; or other programs to make school uniforms available to economically disadvantaged students. Clarifies procedures for policies adopted through election process. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/bills/hbillenr/hb0167.pdf Title: H.B. 167 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us VA Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Directs the state board to develop guidelines for school boards in establishing student dress codes designed to prohibit any apparel or style of dress that may prompt school violence or illegal gang activity. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+CHAP0520 Title: H.B. 1573 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us WV Signed into law 02/2002 P-12 Provides procedure for implementing a uniform dress code for public schools. Title: S.B. 177 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2001 P-12 Relates to school dress code policies. Requires every school site to allow for outdoor use during the school day, articles of sun-protective clothing that pupils be allowed to wear outdoors, including, but not limited to, hats. Title: S.B. 310 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet UT Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Relates to the State System of Public Education by providing that a school uniform policy shall remain in place for at least a year after its formal implementation; provides a window for students to opt out of participating in the school uniform program. Title: H.B. 58 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Deletes certain provisions relating to school dress code and states school boards have the option of adopting a dress code which includes school uniforms. Title: H.B. 2728 (Omnibus Bill) Source: 2000 Legislative Summary, Oklahoma UT Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Relates to public schools; requires an election for the adoption of a school or school district uniform policy; clarifies voting requirements; provides the school uniform policies include an exemption provision. Title: H.B. 155 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet