POLICY
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF EDUCATION
PUPILS
5511/page 1 of 2
Student Dress Code
5511 STUDENT DRESS CODE
The school takes the position that personal taste in dress is a matter of pupil/parent determination
provided that reasonable dress prevents the interference with normal school work, prevents
classroom or school disorder and generally promotes and provides for the protection of health,
safety. With these considerations in mind, the Burlington Township Board of Education
establishes the following dress code for all pupils:
1.
The Principal(s) shall be responsible to advise parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the
above stated philosophy of dress and shall be further responsible for the safe and
appropriate dress of pupils.
2.
The following codes shall be in effect for all pupils:
a.
Apparel shall not be so tight fitting, sheer, transparent, brief, low-cut or
revealing above or below the waist as to be indecent, distracting, or
disruptive to the school environment.
b.
Undergarments shall not be visible.
c.
In general, winter coats or overcoats shall not be worn in school. Based
upon the discretion of the building administration, coats may be permitted
if climate conditions require, or if travel between building is required.
d.
Tank tops, halters, strapless tops, tops supported with strings or thin straps
(spaghetti) and tube tops are not permitted. Sweatshirts, warm-ups, and
tee shirts are permitted if they are not torn and if they are not cut or tied to
expose the midriff. Pupils are not permitted to wear clothing that
acknowledges the use of alcoholic beverages or narcotics, or promotes
sexual innuendoes, displays weapons or violent messages/and or images,
or displays profanity, or displays other images and/or messages that are
deemed inappropriate and/or offensive.
e.
Footwear is required. Shoes with excessively high heels or platform
shoes, or other shoes that the building administrator determines are unsafe,
are not permitted.
f.
Dress/presentation must be in accordance with Policy 5615 Suspected
Gang Activity. Specifically, any apparel, jewelry, accessory or manner of
grooming which, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark, symbol or
POLICY
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF EDUCATION
PUPILS
5511/page 2 of 2
Student Dress Code
any other attribute which indicates or implies membership or affiliation
with a gang or non-board recognized group, whether real or implied, shall
be construed as presenting a clear and present danger to the school
environment, staff and pupils, and the educational objectives of the district
and is strictly prohibited. Any person wearing, carrying, distributing,
displaying gang or group paraphernalia will be subject to appropriate
discipline, including suspension and/or expulsion.
g.
Pupils attending any school functions (field trips, dances, activities during
school hours) will not be permitted to participate unless they are properly
attired.
h.
Safety and protective clothing, as well as athletic or gym clothing, shall be
worn as required by the subject teacher or club instructor.
i.
Hats may not be worn in the building. "Hats" shall not include headwear
worn of religious significance.
j.
The Pupil Dress Code shall be included in pupil handbooks. The Principal
shall develop procedures for in-servicing staff members annually on the
Pupil Dress Code, and for staff reporting of infractions. The Principal or
his/her designee will have sole discretion in determining if pupil dress is in
violation of this policy. When a pupil is found to be in violation of the
Pupil Dress Code, the pupil's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be
contacted to bring a change of clothing to school, or to remove the pupil
from school. Pupils who repeatedly violate the Pupil Dress Code will be
subject to appropriate discipline, as per the established building discipline
codes.
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1; 18A:11-7; 18A:11-8; 18A:11-9
First Reading: 21 September 2011
Adopted: 19 October 2011
Revised First Reading: July 24, 2013
Final Adoption: August 28, 2013