The
Milan
Special
School District
has a responsibility to prepare students to take their places in society as
mature, responsible individuals. Therefore, it is part of the district’s
responsibility to establish and maintain standards that can be carried into
the work place. With that responsibility in mind, the following dress code
will be enforced. (MSSD Board Policy 6.310) APPROVED 7-26-06
It
is the wish of the MSSD Board of Education to allow students flexibility in
student dress which allows for individual expression. Therefore, it is
important that all students follow these guidelines in order to prevent
stricter rules.
The
atmosphere of the school and community is reflected by the dress of the
student body. The student dress code ensures that clothing does not interfere
with the learning process and educational environment. Beginning with the
2007-2008 school year, all schools will comply with the district-wide
standardized dress code.
A
student’s physical appearance shall be clean and neat and not be deemed
distractive in any way including on the bus, in P.E., and on the school
campus. Parental judgment is suggested, but administrative judgment will take
precedent.
Basic
Dress:
*
The
basic dress shall be solid khaki, navy, or black pants, knee-length skirts,
walking shorts, or jumpers and a solid color long sleeve or short sleeve shirt
with a collar (polo style with up to 5 buttons, button-down dress style, or
turtleneck). The top button may be worn unbuttoned.
General:
*
No
denim material may be worn in grades 5 through 12.
*
Students
in grades Pre-K through 4 may wear plain denim jeans.
*
All clothing must be plain without any manufacturer’s logos, brand names,
pictures, insignias (other than Milan Bulldog) visible on the clothing. Small
logos at the waistline or pocket of pants and shorts may be permitted.
*Heavy
coats, heavy jackets, and raincoats are not to be worn inside the school
building.
*
Hats, bandanas, headscarves, sweatbands, stocking caps, hair racks/combs, hair
rollers, combs, rakes, ‘do-rags’, grills, and sunglasses cannot be worn in the
building.
*
All
items of clothing must be appropriately sized. No oversized pants or shirts
will be allowed.
*
Sweat pants or jogging suits may not be worn.
* Clothing
will be clean, in good repair, fit properly, and be appropriate to the
activity at all times.
*
Clothing with holes must be patched on the outside.
*
Articles of clothing should be worn with intended style (e.g. if it is
supposed to be buckled-buckle it; if it is supposed to be zipped-zip it; if it
is supposed to be buttoned-button it; if it is supposed to be tied-tie it).
*
Gloves may not be worn inside the school facility.
*
Cheerleader uniforms will not be worn in the classroom.
Shirts/Sweaters:
* Students
must wear a solid color long sleeve or short sleeve shirt with a collar (polo
with up to 5 buttons, button-down dress style, or turtleneck).
* No
cap sleeves. There must be a seam under the arm.
*
Shirts must be tucked in – Grades 4 through 12.
*
Solid white T-shirts may be worn as an undergarment.
*
Solid color vests, light jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts without hoods, and
cardigans are permitted over the basic shirt. These items may be any
color.
* Sports
symbols and logos are not allowed on shirts, blouses, jumpers, sweatshirts, or
sweaters. The only exception is our school logo, logos on athletic shoes, and
small logos on the waistline or pocket of pants or shorts.
* Shirts,
approved by school administration, that represent school-based organizations
will be allowed on designated
days.
Pants/Jumpers/Shorts/Skirts:
* Students
must wear solid colored (khaki, navy, or black) pants, knee-length walking
shorts, skirts, or jumpers. MES students may wear plain denim jeans.
* Cargo
pants are not allowed.
* Pants
must be straight-legged or flared. Denim jeans and bell bottoms are not
permitted in grades 5 - 12.
*
Skirts, jumpers, and shorts must be worn at or below the knee.
* Solid
khaki, navy, or black capri pants are allowed.
* Pants
must fit at the waist and not be oversized or undersized. Baggy pants, saggy
pants, tights, or pants made of spandex are prohibited. Pants more than one
size larger than the body are considered oversized.
*
All clothing must be plain without any manufacturer’s logos, brand names,
pictures, insignias visible on the clothing, however, small logos at the
waistline or pocket of pants and shorts are allowed.
* Students
may wear walking shorts (at the knee or lower) year round. Shorts must be
dress-type. Sports shorts are not allowed.
* Un-hemmed
pants, frayed bottoms, and cutoffs are not allowed.
Shoes/Belts/Jewelry:
* Shoes
can have heels no higher than one and one-half inches. Athletic shoes,
sandals, and boots are permitted.
* Shoes
must be laced, tied, strapped, and hooked. House shoes are not permitted.
* In
grades 4 through 12, a belt must be worn through the belt loops. Belts must be
appropriate size and may be solid brown, black, or navy.
* Clothing
or jewelry that indicates drug culture, gang membership, supports gang
behavior, or is gang-identified will not be tolerated.
* Students
may not wear jewelry or hair accessories that may be construed as dangerous or
distracting. Pierced jewelry shall be limited to earrings only. Other pierced
jewelry (real or look alike) is not allowed.
*
Grills will not be allowed.
Backpacks/Book
Bags:
* Rolling
book bags are not allowed unless medically necessary and approved by school
administration.
Special
Days:
* Special
days may be set aside by the school administration to allow variation in the
dress code. Dates will be announced.
* Clothing
must always be appropriate.
Compliance/Dress
Code Consequences:
After
the first violation, students who miss class due to the necessity of changing
into clothes that meet the dress code, will be UNEXCUSED for the period of
time missed and will receive a zero for any assignments due or assigned during
the missed class periods.
*** First
Violation
– Students will receive a verbal warning. The student will attempt to call a
parent or guardian to bring appropriate clothing to school. Students who miss
class due to the necessity of changing into clothes that meet the dress code
will have until the next day to make up any missed work. It is his/her
responsibility to get missed assignments from his/her teachers. A “Notice of
Noncompliance” will be mailed and sent home with the student. This notice
requires the parent to call or come to the school the day after receiving the
notice for a conference to discuss the standard dress policy.
*** Second
Violation
- The student shall receive a minimum of a detention. The student will attempt
to call a parent or guardian to bring appropriate clothing to school. Students
who miss class due to the necessity of changing into clothes that meet the
dress code will be UNEXCUSED for the period of time missed and will receive a
zero for any assignments due or assigned during the missed class periods. A
“Notice of Noncompliance” will be mailed and sent home with the student. This
notice requires the parent to call or come to the school the day after
receiving the notice for a conference to discuss the standard dress policy.
***Third
Violation- The student shall be assigned to Saturday School. The student
will attempt to call a parent or guardian to bring appropriate
clothing to school. A “Notice of Noncompliance” will be mailed and sent home
with the student. This notice requires the parent to call or come to the
school the day after receiving the notice for a conference to discuss the
standard dress policy. Students who miss class due to the necessity of
changing into clothes that meet the dress code will be UNEXCUSED for the
period of time missed and will receive a zero for any assignments due or
assigned during the missed class periods.
*** Fourth
and Subsequent Violations
– The student will attempt to call a parent or guardian to bring appropriate
clothing to school. A “Notice of Noncompliance” will be mailed and sent home
with the student. This notice requires the parent to call or come to the
school the day after receiving the notice for a conference to discuss the
standard dress policy. Students who miss
class due to the necessity of changing into clothes that meet the dress code
will be UNEXCUSED for the period of time missed and will receive a zero for
any assignments due or assigned during the missed class periods. The
student will be assigned to the
Milan
Special
School District
Alternative School
for a minimum of 5 days. A parent or guardian will be required to meet with
school administrators before the student will be given permission to return to
school.
Exemptions:
A
parent who objects to standardized dress because of his or her religion or
religious belief must obtain a copy of the policy on Standard Dress, a Request
for Exemption Form and an Exemption Questionnaire from the school office,
complete the form and questionnaire, and return them to the school. The
principal shall review the documents and accept or deny the request or
exemption. The principal must accept or deny the request within two (2) school
days. If the principal denies the request, he or she must give the parent a
written basis for the decision.
The
parent can appeal a principal’s denial of the request for exemption to the
Director of Schools within two (2) school days of receiving the principal’s
denial. The Director of Schools must meet with the parents within five (5)
school days of the receipt of the request for appeal, and must render a
decision within five (5) school days of meeting with the parents. If the
Director of Schools also denies the request, he or she must provide a written
basis for the decision.
The
parent may make a final appeal to the Board of Education and ask the Board to
review the written record of the request for exemption and the denials. This
appeal must be made within five (5) school days of the Director of School’s
denial of the appeal. The Board may hold a hearing on the exemption request at
its discretion. The decision of the Board is final. A student will remain in
school in the dress style recommended by the parent until the appeal process
is completed.