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Dress Code Guidelines

In accordance with New York City Department of Education (DOE) policy, Related Links
students have the right to determine their own attire, except where the dress
is dangerous, interferes with the teaching and learning process, or violates Hello
the DOE’s anti-discrimination policy. Schools may develop and implement a
dress code if it is consistent with DOE policies and the guidelines below. All Respect for All:
schools are strongly advised to reexamine any existing dress code practices Preventing and
using these guidelines. Before developing a new dress code or reexamining Addressing Student-
an existing one, schools should consult with their School Leadership Team, to-Student
parents, and various members of the student body in order to ensure that Discrimination, Sexual
different perspectives and identities are considered and respected. and Other
Harassment,
Dress codes must be implemented equally and in a non-discriminatory Intimidation, and
manner. Schools must ensure that all staff, students, and parents are advised Bullying
in writing of the dress code, students’ rights with respect to their attire, and
consequences for students wearing clothing that violates the dress code. Digital Citizenship

Dress Code Guidelines After-School

When developing dress codes, schools must examine the reasoning and Attendance
justiNcation for each requirement and consider evolving generational,
cultural, social, and identity-norms. Requirements should not rePect or School Counselors
promote generational, cultural, social, or identity biases.
Dress codes must not prohibit a student from wearing clothing
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consistent with their needs based on their protected identities or from
maintaining or wearing natural hair or hairstyles that are closely
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associated with these identities. For example, dress codes should
allow:
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headwear worn for religious observance or disability-related attire;
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or
head scarves, do-rags, beads and other hair accessories, short or
Guidelines on Gender
long hair, locs, braids, and twists.
Dress codes must be gender neutral and applied uniformly. Dress codes
Dress Code
may not prohibit a speciNc gender from wearing particular attire. A
Guidelines
school cannot require gender-speciNc attire for DOE- or school-
sponsored programs or activities. For example, dress codes may not:
prohibit students who identify as male from wearing skirts,
jewelry, or nail polish;
require only students who identify as male to wear neck ties for
yearbook photos; or
require only students who identify as female to wear dresses at
graduation.
Schools also may not prohibit “distracting” clothing or certain types of
clothing that is stereotypically associated with one gender. Free Student Meals
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For example, dress codes may not only prohibit miniskirts or
camisole tank tops, which are predominantly worn by students
who identify as female.
As an alternative, schools may prohibit all students from wearing
revealing clothing that does not provide full coverage of private
body parts.
In order to maintain a positive, safe, and inclusive learning environment,
DOE policy prohibits students from wearing clothing in school, on
school buses, or during any DOE- or school-sponsored programs or
activities that take place on or off school property, which contains Transportation
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language (including slurs), images, or references:
which discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion,
religious practices, ethnicity, national origin,
citizenship/immigration status, gender, gender identity, gender
expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight;
to profanity, obscenity, nudity, or sexual acts;
to threats of violence, injury or harm, or gang aWliation.

Dress Code Violations

Students who do not adhere to the dress code may be provided with
appropriate supports, interventions, and possible disciplinary responses, as
set forth in the DOE Discipline Code, and any appropriate adjustments to their
clothing. In determining and implementing supports and interventions, the
school should consider the totality of the circumstances, including but not
limited to the following factors: the student’s family, home, or community
situation; the student’s age and maturity; whether there have been prior
incidents regarding the dress code and what steps were previously taken to
address them; and the social emotional status and needs of the student.

If a student comes to school wearing clothing prohibited by the dress code or

DOE policy:

The school must notify the student and their parent(s) and discuss the
importance of following the dress code and the expectation that the
student will adhere to the dress code going forward.
In those situations where the school determines that an immediate
adjustment of the student’s clothing is warranted prior to the end of the
school day (e.g., clothing contains discriminatory language), the school
must advise the parent and student and discuss options for conforming
with the dress code. Adjustments offered should be appropriate and
should not be used in a punitive manner or in a way which makes the
student feel uncomfortable. Schools can consider asking the student to
turn a shirt inside out, cover or replace the clothing until the end of the
school day, or offering the student clean alternative clothing if the
school has such clothing on hand.

Related DOE Dress Code Resources

Additional information on related DOE policies can be found in the resources
listed below.

K-12 Student Bill of Rights

including “The Right to Freedom of Expression and Person
(Section II)” and “Student Responsibilities (Section V)”
Guidelines on Gender Inclusion
Guidelines to Support Transgender and Gender Expansive Students
Respect for All: Preventing and Addressing Student-to-Student
Discrimination, Sexual and Other Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
Chancellor’s Regulation A-665 – Uniform Policy (for schools that
adopt a uniform policy, instead of a dress code)
Chancellor’s Regulation A-831 – Student-to-Student Sexual
Harassment
Chancellor’s Regulation A-832 – Student-to-Student Discrimination,
Harassment, Intimidation, and/or Bullying
Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student Learning
which includes the Discipline Code
Chancellor’s Regulation A-830 – Anti-Discrimination Policy and
Procedures for Filing Internal Complaints of Discrimination

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