Lindsey Cooper
Dress Code Case Analysis
EAD-519
Part 1: Case Analysis
Summary of Case
As an assistant principal, you have been asked to come up with an effective dress code
and consequences for students who do not follow the rules of the dress code or the ID card rules.
In a large school, grades 9-12, with 2,400 students there is a problem with both male and female
students wearing inappropriate clothing. Male teachers do not feel comfortable correcting female
student dress code violations and female teachers end up arguing with female students over
trivial things such as the width of their straps or the length of their shorts or skirt. Currently
students who are dress-coded are required to go to the ISS (In School Suspension) room and
change clothes where the faculty member tracks the students name and dress code violation.
Most of the time students do not go to the ISS room, they simply change clothes and go back to
class, leaving tracking difficult to do. There is an additional consequence for students who have
been dress-coded more than three times. The district has most of the decision-making powers
regarding students wearing ID cards and what kind of dress code can be assigned.
Issues to Resolve
One issue to be resolved is the issue of students dressing inappropriately. Another issue is
how to properly track students who violate the dress code so that they can receive appropriate
consequences based on the number of offenses they have. A final issue to resolve is students not
wearing their ID badges daily like they are supposed to. The AP is tasked with coming up with
an effective consequence for students not wearing their ID badges or an alternate way to identify
students throughout the school day.
Stakeholders Involved
Stakeholders involved are the school administration, primarily the assistant principal in
charge of making the new dress code, students at the school, parents of those students, teachers
in the school, the superintendent and other district employees that make dress code and ID card
decisions.
Board Policies and Court Cases
Williamson County Board of Education Dress Code Policy states: “Any apparel or dress
that is potentially disruptive to the learning environment or educational process is not permitted.
Any apparel or dress that is dangerous to the health or safety of students or the lawful, peaceful
operation of the school is not permitted” (WCBoE, 2019). There have also been several cases
regarding dress code and freedom of speech. In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community
School District, students were being punished for wearing a black armband in protest of the
Vietnam War in which the court affirmed these students’ freedom of speech, and they were
allowed to continue wearing the armband (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School
District).
Possible Solutions
A possible solution to the problem of dress code violations is to get students involved in
making the dress code in the first place. When students have a say in decisions and feel as if they
are being heard, they are more likely to make good decisions and encourage others to do so. The
same goes for the consequences. Get them involved in reasonable consequences and have them
come up with what they believe is fair and appropriate. As far as students not being tracked,
come up with some type of referral system that teachers are responsible for filling out when they
see a student in violation. Regarding the ID badge issue, once again, get students involved. Let
them choose how to wear their ID badge—whether it’s on a lanyard, badge clip, badge reel, etc.
A solution for students not wearing their badge is to come up with a reward system for students
who wear their badge daily or weekly.
Action Steps
The first step in solving the problem will be to create a committee made up of students,
faculty, staff, and parents. The committee will review the current dress code policy, ID card
policy, and consequences for failure to adhere to both. The committee will make a survey to poll
students, parents, and teachers about the current dress code and ID card, new ideas, and
appropriate consequences for breaking the rules. Within two weeks, the committee will meet
again to discuss the findings from the survey and come up with suggestions. I will write up a
new dress code, ID card rules, and consequences before school ends. The committee will meet
once again to approve and/or make changes. After final changes, I will submit the dress code to
the principal for approval.
Potential Moral and Legal Consequences
The possibility of legal consequences of this decision is very low, but there are always
risks in making rules that could violate someone’s rights. Moral consequences are that a small
group of people are making decisions for a larger group and if the committee is not chosen
correctly, not all type of student will be represented and given a voice.
Part 2: Rational
The reason I chose to form a committee is because when dress code becomes a problem,
it affects all parties inside and outside of the school. Parents take issue with inappropriately
dressed students and some have an issue with too many rules being placed on students. Teachers
are also burdened with having to enforce it when students argue and just plain don’t listen. The
same goes for the ID card issue. I feel like if we give students a choice to be heard, they will
most likely use that voice for the good of the group and we can come up with something that
everyone will agree with. Having issues that take away from the everyday learning of these
students should be kept at a minimum and eliminated completely if possible. Dress code is not a
hill that most administrators are willing to die on, so coming up with a simple solution that
makes the majority happy is the best way to go.
References
Dress Code. Williamson County Board of Education, [Link]
of-education-policy-manual/#search
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (Supreme Court February 24,
1969).
