The enforcement of appropriate dress standards and what society defines as appropriate dress is a challenge that continues to test the creativity of administrators in the work place, in schools and at social events. Diversity between social groups, influence of the media and access to the internet makes it difficult to achieve consensus on a public school campus regarding acceptable dress standards.
There continues to be discussions about the adoption of uniforms for public school students. Until there is a BOE policy or law mandating school uniforms, the “opt out” clause that must accompany school uniform policies makes it difficult to monitor such policies.
Procedures and Consequences:
Security classroom checks throughout the school day:
1. During Citizenship, School Security Attendants (SSAs) will check every room for violators referred by the teacher; The SSAs are not to make any determination on whether there is a violation or not; the teacher decides.
2. Teachers are to check the base clothing of all students in the class to insure compliance with the KSHDS.
3. During each period of the day, the SSAs will conduct “spot checks” for teachers referring students.
4. If an administrator is not available, the SSM will take the information about the student and offer the KSDS shirt; If the student refuses to wear the shirt, the student will be detained until an administrator is available to see the student.
Dress Standard checks during passing, wiki, activity period, lunch and after school:
1. Any staff member on campus may refer students for KHSDS violations;
2. The staff member making the referral is to find out the student’s name, complete a KHSDS referral form and turn it in to a VP’s mail box for follow up.
During the class period and school sponsored activities: Each teacher is responsible for announcing at the start of the class period that all students are to be in compliance with the Kealakehe High School Dress Standard. After the one (1) week implementation period, any student who does not comply with the teacher’s “warning procedure” and continues to not comply with the KHSDS shall be referred to an administrator for consequences. Administrators shall enforce a “zero tolerance” disposition and students referred for not complying with the KHSDS shall be given one (1) of the following consequences:
1. On the first referral, the student will choose to wear the “Dress Standard Violation” shirt for the remainder of the day or receive a two day “in school” suspension;
a. The student is to serve a two day “in-school” suspension and parents shall not have the option of keeping the student at home;
b. If the student is absent on the day(s) of the “in-school” suspension, the student will serve the suspension upon returning to school;
c. If the referral is received after 11:00AM in the morning, the student will spend the remainder of that day and the next two days in the “in-school” suspension center.
2. If a student is referred for a second KHSDS violation, the referral shall be classified as “insubordination” and the student will be suspended for 3 days “Out of School” suspension.
3. If a student is referred for a third KHSDS violation, the referral shall be classified as “disorderly conduct” and the student shall be suspended for 5 days “Out of School” suspension.
4. If there are extreme or special circumstances that need to be considered, the administrator handling the incident will render the final decision.
It is the responsibility of parent(s)/guardian(s) to be knowledgeable of this policy and insure that the teen has appropriate clothing and understands the consequences of violating the policy.
The administration will be responsible for communicating this policy to parents and students via a notice in the local paper, an article in the school’s newsletter, email using the
Kealakehe High School Dress Standard
Students at Kealakehe High School are expected to be in compliance with the Dress Standard throughout the school day and at school sponsored activities where students are directly involved (DI) in the participation of the activity. (Ex. Assemblies, academic/athletic contests.) Exceptions to the Dress Standard may be made due to requirements of a course or academic activity. (Ex. Proms, drama performances) The Dress Standard applies to both genders.
Definitions: Base Clothing - tops, bottoms, dresses, wraps (i.e. sarongs, pareo) that are opaque and designed for outer wear and is in direct contact with the skin.
Accessory Clothing – Clothing except undergarments, and bikini type swimwear that may be used to accessorize Base Clothing.
Opaque – not transparent or translucent; impervious to light so that images cannot be seen through it.
Undergarment – a piece of clothing worn beneath “base” clothes, especially next to the skin, and not normally seen in public; boxers; briefs; lingerie; athletic bras.
Private parts – Breast cleavage, breasts, any part of the buttocks, genitalia.
Generally accepted – What a reasonable person and society defines as acceptable.
General Standard:
· The assessment of teachers shall determine violation of the KHSDS;
· Clothing may not detract from, nor interfere with the learning environment or process; Any clothing which may have a disruptive influence on the school is not permitted;
· All base clothing (clothing designed for outer wear, and is in direct contact with the skin) is to be opaque and cover all areas of the body as specified by the categories below;
· Necklines cannot be more than one palm width when the hand is held horizontally and measured from the base of the collarbone;
· Clothing, accessories or jewelry bearing inappropriate or undesirable advertising, lettering, graphics, color scheme or symbols cannot be worn at school or a DI school sponsored activity; these include but are not limited to elements referring to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, sex and/or sexual connotations, violence, bullying and harassment;
· Undergarments such as boxers, bras, men’s undershirts, athletic bras and bikini type swimwear cannot be worn as base clothing, or outer accessories.
Base Tops: Any garment designed to be worn above the waist and generally accepted as clothing.
· Base tops are to be opaque, cover the entire chest and midriff area regardless of body movement or position and meet the neckline standard which is the width of an individual’s palm held horizontally and measured from the base of the collarbone;
· Base tops when worn in combination with Base Bottoms are to cover the midriff, hips and buttock area regardless of movement of body position.
· Base tops are not to reveal cleavage, undergarments including bra straps and/or bikini tops being use as undergarments;
· Strapless tops may be used as Base Tops as long as they are opaque and the undergarment including straps and/or bikini tops are not showing and the top is not so tight or form fitting that it may cause a distraction.
· Tops with spaghetti straps may be used as Base Tops as long as they are opaque and the undergarment including bra straps and/or bikini tops being use as undergarments are not showing and the garment is not so form fitting that it may cause a distraction.
Accessory Tops: Any garment that can be used as an accessory to the Base Top and generally accepted as clothing.
· No undergarment can be used as an Accessory Top;
· Although wraps, jackets and sweatshirts may be used as Accessory Tops they cannot be used to cover a Base Top that is not compliant with the KHSDS.
Base Bottoms: Any garment designed to be worn at waist level and generally accepted as clothing.
· Base bottoms are to be opaque and worn in combination with Base Tops to cover the midriff, hips and buttocks area to a minimum length that is mid-thigh when measured with shoulders and feet parallel to the ground/floor;
· Shorts used as Base Bottoms are to be opaque and worn in combination with Base Tops to cover the midriff, hips and buttocks area to a minimum length that is two (2) inches above mid-thigh.
· Teachers and staff members are to estimate to the length of Base Bottom clothing and determine whether the length is too short; if necessary, the administrator handling the referral will make the final decision;
· The combination of Base Bottoms and Base Tops are to cover the midriff, hips and buttocks area regardless of body movement or position;
· Base bottoms are to be worn in such fashion that does not expose undergarments or private parts regardless of body movement or position.
· Accessory Bottoms: Any garment that can be used as an accessory to the Base Bottom and generally accepted as clothing.
· Undergarment cannot be used as an Accessory Bottom;
· Although wraps, “sweatpants” type bottoms and other garments may be used as Accessory Bottoms they cannot be used to cover a Base Bottom that is not compliant with the KHSDS.
Base Dresses: Any garment designed to be worn as single acceptable garment and generally accepted as clothing.
· Base dresses are to be opaque and are to cover the entire midriff, hips and buttocks area to a minimum length that is mid-thigh when measured with shoulders and feet parallel to the ground/floor;
· Base dresses are to cover the midriff, hips and buttocks area regardless of body movement or position;
· Base dresses are to be worn in such fashion that does not expose undergarments or private parts regardless of body movement or position.
Accessory Dresses: Any garment designed to be worn as a single garment that can be used as an accessory to any Base Garment and generally accepted as clothing.
· Dresses that are not opaque can be used as an Accessory Dress but they cannot be used to cover any Base Garment that is not compliant with the KHSDS.
Sunglasses: Sun glasses are not to be worn inside the classrooms, library, business or administrators offices unless medically required and verified with a doctor’s note.
Footwear: For safety purposes students are expected to wear footwear; covered footwear, i.e. crocs, b-ball shoes)
Staff Dress Standard: At this time, labor agreements prohibit the school from mandating a dress standard for employees; however, teachers are strongly encouraged and expected to model appropriate professional dress in the workplace.
The Dress Standard Policy will be reviewed annually by the School Community Council (SCC).